Frazier plays hero again, carries Georgia past LSU
J.J. Frazier may not go down as the best player in Georgia basketball history, but you’ll have to look long and hard to find one with a greater competitive spirit and desire to win – no matter what.
Just when you think there aren’t any new adjectives to describe the senior, Frazier goes out and does something else that forces you to try and find the words.
His effort in Saturday’s 82-80 win over LSU is just the latest example.
It was Frazier’s free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining that ultimately led to the Bulldogs to pulling out a victory over the Tigers. But it wasn’t until after the game that head coach Mark Fox let the media in on a little secret – Frazier spent much of the morning at a local Urgent Care Center with an undisclosed illness.
“He woke up with it, so I think it was probably 9:30 or 10, our trainer took him to the hospital,” Fox said of Frazier, who was unavailable for post-game interviews because he was with team trainers. “The campus health center was closed today, so we took him to the Urgent Care. So, I’m really proud of how he responded under those circumstances. They thought it was the flu, but he tested negative for that.”
Respond he did.
Not only did Frazier’s free throws save the day, but he once again led the Bulldogs (17-12, 8-8) with 29 points, the fourth time in five games he’s scored at least 28 points.
“Nothing J.J. does surprises anyone,” fellow guard Turtle Jackson said. “We see this kind of thing every day.”
If getting out of Urgent Care to play wasn’t impressive enough, consider that Frazier’s effort came after he picked up his fourth foul with 6:21 to play.
Fox conceded he thought briefly about taking Frazier out. But not for long.
“I did think about that. Obviously, I was concerned with how he was feeling, but figured that J.J. Frazier would rather die out there on that court than not be out there trying to win, so I left him in,” Fox said. “We made one little shift defensively, traded him and Turtle, and he was able to finish the game without another foul.”
Fortunately for Georgia.
After leading by as many 17 points, LSU rallied back, taking an 80-77 lead with 52 seconds left.
Following a layup by Derek Ogbeide to bring Georgia back within one, LSU held the ball before missing a three-point attempt by Antonio Blakeney with 12 seconds remaining. Following a mad battle for the ball – which included a missed tip-in by Wayde Sims with seven seconds left - the Bulldogs secured the ball with just over six seconds on the clock.
Following a 30-second timeout, the Bulldogs managed to get the ball to Frazier who weaved his way the length of the court, put up a shot that missed, only to be bumped from behind by Duop Reath with 1.6 seconds left.
Frazier calmly hit both free throws to put the Bulldogs back up by one point before a quick foul on Derek Ogbeide following a quick steal resulted in a free throw and the final score.
“I’m not going to say I agree or disagree (with the call). I just hate it because I’d like to see kids finish games,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said. “I like to see a kid who finishes a shot, or finish it with a block.”
Junior Juwan Parker – who along with Ogbeide added 12 points each for the Bulldogs – was asked his take on the play.
“The ref called the foul so we’re going to go with the foul,” said Parker, who brushed off the notion that Georgia was “owed” a call after some of the ones to go against the Bulldogs this year.
“You can call it the law of averages,” Parker continued. “It’s just like with shooting. You’re going to go back to your average. If you have a couple of missed calls, you’re going to get a couple of big calls.”
Back to Frazier.
With Saturday’s effort, the Glennville native moves to eighth in Georgia history in scoring, 6th in three-pointers made while remaining first in free throw percentage after converting 10 of 11 attempts against the Tigers (9-19, 1-15).
“I think he’s had a remarkable career, and I should have saved all the hate mail I got when I signed him,” Fox said. “But I think people admire J.J., have a great respect for him. Hopefully, he will feel the love from our fans on Wednesday night.”
NOTES: Georgia returns to action on Wednesday when the Bulldogs host Auburn at 6:30 p.m. …With 12 points, Parker has now scored in double-digits 14 times this year.