Georgia Snaps Skid with Statement Road Win Over LSU
For the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s SEC clash in Baton Rouge, it looked like Georgia was headed for another long afternoon. LSU couldn’t miss, jumping out to a 31-16 lead behind a red-hot shooting start.
But what followed was a gritty, composed response from a Georgia team that had dropped three straight and desperately needed a spark. They found it - and then some.
The Bulldogs stormed back with a 26-9 run to close the half, flipped the script defensively, and rode that momentum all the way to an 82-76 road win - their first victory at LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center since 2018. That win five years ago came on a last-second bucket.
This one? It was earned through 30 minutes of the best two-way basketball Georgia has played all season.
Let’s break down how the Dawgs turned a slow start into a signature SEC road win.
Georgia’s Perimeter Defense Shifts the Game
LSU came out firing. The Tigers hit five of their first six three-point attempts, were perfect from the free throw line, and shot over 60 percent from the field in the early going. Max Mackinnon and Marquel Sutton looked poised to torch Georgia’s defense all night.
But Georgia responded with toughness and tactical adjustments. The Bulldogs tightened up their perimeter defense, closed out harder, and forced LSU to work for every look.
The result? LSU missed its next 16 three-point attempts - a stunning swing that flipped the game’s momentum.
That defensive effort gave Georgia the breathing room it needed to get going offensively. And when Kanon Catchings got hot, the Tigers had no answer.
Catchings Catches Fire
This was the breakout performance Georgia fans have been waiting for from Kanon Catchings. The freshman forward was lights out, dropping 23 points and hitting five of his six three-point attempts - four of those coming in the first half during Georgia’s comeback run. Every time LSU sagged off or lost him in transition, Catchings made them pay.
Jeremiah Wilkinson added 18 points of his own, while Somto Cyril chipped in 12. Blue Cain also knocked down a pair of threes, giving Georgia some much-needed floor spacing.
But it was Catchings who changed the geometry of the game. His shooting opened up driving lanes, forced LSU to extend its defense, and gave Georgia a new offensive identity - one that doesn’t rely solely on pace and paint touches.
Another Slow Start, But a Different Finish
If the opening stretch felt familiar, that’s because it was. Just a week ago, Georgia fell behind early to Texas A&M and never recovered. Saturday’s game looked like it might follow the same script when LSU surged to a 15-point lead.
But this time, Georgia didn’t fold. Head coach Mike White pointed to the team’s shot selection early - six “A” shots and just two “C” shots - as a sign that the offense was functioning, even if the shots weren’t falling.
Once the defense settled in, the Bulldogs began to chip away. And when LSU’s shots stopped falling, Georgia took full control.
White called it one of the best 30-minute defensive stretches his team has played all season - and it came at just the right time.
A Confidence-Boosting Win
Georgia entered the game on a three-game skid and in need of a jolt. LSU, despite its 2-8 SEC record, had been playing better than the standings suggested - including a near-upset of Kentucky and a strong showing against Missouri.
White knew this was a dangerous team, and his players responded with a focused week of practice and a locked-in performance on the floor. The win wasn’t just about snapping a losing streak - it was about proving they could execute, defend, and close out a tough opponent on the road.
“We gained some confidence today because we have respect for this program,” White said postgame. “We were locked in this week in preparation… especially defensively in those last 30 minutes.”
Winning the Battle on the Glass
One of Georgia’s biggest issues in SEC play has been rebounding. Opponents have routinely outmuscled the Bulldogs on the boards, especially on the defensive end. But Saturday showed progress.
Georgia edged LSU 36-34 on the glass - a small margin, but a meaningful one. More importantly, they competed. White praised his team’s effort, noting that even when they didn’t secure the rebound, they at least had bodies in the fight.
“We made a significant improvement with our desire to compete on the glass,” White said. “If we can just continue to get better and stay in the fight, we can’t get demolished on the glass. We’ve got to keep it close.”
The Turning Point
LSU’s 31-16 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the first half felt ominous. But what followed was the game’s defining stretch.
The Tigers missed eight straight threes and turned the ball over five times. Georgia, meanwhile, hit 10 of its next 15 shots, including four threes, and came up with three steals. Catchings nailed two of those threes and added another bucket during the run, helping Georgia take a five-point lead into halftime - a lead they never gave back.
Shooting the Lights Out
Georgia came into the game ranked 25th nationally in three-point percentage at 31.7%. Against LSU, they shot a scorching 40% from deep, going 10-for-25.
That kind of efficiency changes the ceiling for this team. If the Bulldogs can continue to knock down perimeter shots at that clip, it adds a new layer to an offense that’s often had to grind out points in the halfcourt.
What’s Next
With Florida up next, Georgia will look to build on this momentum. Saturday’s win wasn’t just a bounce-back - it was a blueprint.
Tough defense, improved rebounding, and timely shooting. If the Bulldogs can replicate that formula, they’ll be a tough out the rest of the way in the SEC.
This was more than just a win in the standings. It was a statement that Georgia still has something to say in this league.