The University of Georgia basketball team pulled off a thrilling 88-83 win over No. 3 Florida on Tuesday night, marking one of their biggest victories in years. The Bulldogs took a huge lead early in the game, lost it in the final minutes, but made key plays at the end to take back control. This win snapped a 12-game losing streak against Florida and boosted Georgia’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament.
Georgia was on fire in the first half, building a 26-point lead by making 75% of their shots. Florida struggled at first but slowly fought back, cutting Georgia’s lead to 51-35 by halftime. The Gators kept pushing in the second half, eventually taking the lead at 80-78 with just over a minute left after scoring 13 straight points.
That lead didn’t last long. Georgia guard Blue Cain hit a clutch three-pointer with 47 seconds left to put the Bulldogs back on top. From there, Georgia stayed strong at the free-throw line to seal the victory. The win sent the home crowd at Stegeman Coliseum into celebration.
Silas Demary Jr. led Georgia (17-11, 5-10 SEC) with 21 points, including four three-pointers. Freshman Asa Newell added 15 points and nine rebounds. Cain’s late-game heroics helped Georgia secure a victory that could be crucial for their postseason chances.
Florida (24-4, 11-4 SEC) was led by Will Richard, who scored a career-high 30 points and made five three-pointers. Walter Clayton Jr. added 18 points for the Gators. Despite their slow start, Florida dominated the second half, forcing turnovers and making key shots to put themselves in a position to win.
Florida had a chance to take full control in the final minutes, but they struggled with free throws, making only 62% of their attempts (18-for-29). Georgia, on the other hand, took advantage of their chances, hitting 81.5% (22-for-27) from the line.
This victory was Georgia’s first win over a top-five team since 2004, when they beat No. 5 Kentucky. It was also head coach Mike White’s first win over Florida since leaving the program in 2022.
For Florida, the loss ended a six-game winning streak and hurt their chances of securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gators will try to bounce back on Saturday when they take on No. 12 Texas A&M.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s victory gives them renewed hope of making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015.
