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Instant Analysis: Georgia 60, Alabama 55

Derek Ogbeide goes up between three men for the ball.
Derek Ogbeide goes up between three men for the ball. (USA Today)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No Yante Maten, no problem.

Despite the absence of the talented junior after Maten sprained his right knee against Kentucky, the Bulldogs were able to go into Coleman Coliseum and topple the Crimson Tide.

Thank J.J. Frazier for that.

Frazier poured in 28 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 60-55 win with 16 of his points coming in the second half.

The win boosts Georgia to 16-12 overall, 7-8 in the SEC. Alabama falls to 16-11 and 9-6.

Turning point

Georgia led the entire way, but with just under five minutes left, the Tide had an opportunity to take control only to have Frazier come up with a steal and subsequent lay in to keep the Bulldogs in front 54-51 with 4:24 left.

Donta Hall's shot made it 54-53 and, one possession later, Alabama had a chance to take the lead until Frazier did it again, scooping in a shot with 1:21 left to push the margin back to three points at 56-53.

Braxton Key would make two more free throws to bring Alabama within one point for a third time but Frazier came through yet again, sinking a pair of free throws before a turnover by Alabama put Frazier on the line once again.

This time, Frazier would make just one of two shots to extend the margin to 59-55 with under one minute to play.

First half success

The Bulldogs couldn’t have asked for a much better first half.

Georgia shot an impressive 50 percent from the field (11-of-22), while holding the Crimson Tide to just over 20 percent shooting, including a 3-of-13 effort from three-point range.

In fact, Alabama, which made 9-of-15 three-pointers in the first meeting in Athens, missed its first seven before back-to-back 3s from Key broke the skid.

But the Tide was never able to find its rhythm as the Bulldogs led by as many as 14 points before settling for a 12-point halftime lead of 30-18.

Frazier led the Bulldogs’ first-half effort with nine points, followed by Derek Ogbeide with seven.

Dawgs stay out of foul trouble

During Tuesday’s interview session, Fox talked about the fact his team needed to play smart and stay out of foul trouble.

The Bulldogs did just that.

Georgia didn’t commit a foul until 10:30 to go in the first half.

Next up

Georgia returns to action on Saturday when the Bulldogs host LSU at 6 p.m. Georgia has three more regular-season games: LSU, Auburn (March 1) and the finale at Arkansas (March 4) before the SEC Tournament is set to begin in Nashville on March 8.

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