TIP-OFF: Saturday, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Auburn Arena

RECORDS: Georgia 12-5, 3-3; Auburn 16-2, 4-1

TV/RADIO: SEC Network (Dave Neal, Jon Sunvold): Georgia Bulldog Radio Network (Scott Howard, Chuck Dowdle, Tony Schiavone).

Mark Fox surprised some by giving Teshaun Hightower his first career start in last Tuesday night's 61-60 win at LSU, but Georgia's head coach seemed non-committal when asked if the freshman will make it two in a row Saturday night at Auburn.

"It was match-up-driven completely," Fox said Friday as the team readied for its drive to Auburn. "I'm not sure if it's something we will do a lot, but in that game it was really match-up driven. LSU was essentially starting two point guards, so we tried to match that."

Whether he starts in Saturday's game or not, Hightower has seen more and more action in recent games for Georgia (12-5, 3-3) and figures to be leaned on again against the Tigers (16-2, 4-1), the first-place team in the SEC.

Tip-off at Auburn Arena is set for 6 p.m. (SEC Network).

Against LSU, Hightower held his own, scoring eight points against the Tigers, despite struggling from the free throw line, converting just 1 of 6, including two after a late intentional foul prior to Yante Maten hitting what turned out to be the game-winning shot.

"He's just learning to play at this level," Fox said of Hightower's struggles from the line. "We've worked with his stroke, that's a work in progress but it continues to get better. He's one of those guys who's probably a better three-point shooter than he is a free throw shooter. I think that will quickly change but he needs some repitition there to get comfortable and probably an SEC game on the road was not the place for that to happen."

Nevertheless, teammate Juwan Parker said he felt Hightower impressed in a couple of significant ways.

"He brings a lot of intensity. He's a great defender, one of our best defenders and he's just competitive, man," Parker said. "He doesn't like anybody to get the best of him, whether it's offensively and taking a good shot at knocking it down or defensively with the challenge of guarding the other team's best player. He's just a competitor."

Fox agreed.

"He has such immense physical talent, has great size for whatever position we put him at in the backcourt, tremendous speed, great lateral quickness and really from a physical standpoint is seldom over-matched physically," Fox said. "He's just extremely gifted."

OFF THE BENCH: Fox shook up his lineup against LSU, going to a three-guard lineup which meant freshman Rashaun Hammonds (6.9 ppg, 5.2 rpp) moving to the bench. Guard Jordan Harris (3.6 ppg) and forward Nicolas Claxton (3.8 ppg) continue to receiver a steady share of minutes, while Mike Edwards, E'Torrion Wilridge and Tyree Crump continue to get what they can.

OFF THE BENCH: Atlanta freshman Chuma Okeke has been the key man off Auburn's bench, chipping in with 7.8 points per game, but he's not the only one. Junior Malik Dunbar (6.1 ppg), guard Davion Mitchell (4.7 ppg) and Horace Spencer (4.8 ppg) are also receiving extensive minutes and taking advantage of the opportunities they are receiving.

KEYS TO THE GAME: Georgia has a significant size advantage against the Tigers, whose tallest starter is Anfernee McClemore (6-7). No other Auburn starter is taller than 6-5, so look for the Bulldogs to use their height, slow the tempo and make it as much of a half-court game as possible.

FREE THROWS: Free throws, or lack thereof, have been a major problem for the Bulldogs. In Georgia's 68-56 loss to South Carolina, the Bulldogs converted just 18 of 28 from the line. They weren't much better against LSU, making just 9 of 16. Against the nation's 17th-ranked team at their gym, it would behoove Georgia to start taking better advantage of their opportunities.

FIND A CONSISTENT SECOND SCORER: This will be a key for Georgia from here on out. You pretty much know what you're going to get from Yante Maten, but unless the Bulldogs can find a consistent second and third scoring option, it's going to be tough for the Bulldogs in big road games like the one against the Tigers.