In a game that featured enough plot twists to fill a telenovela season, the No. 23-ranked Georgia Bulldogs managed to claw out a 104-100 overtime victory against Auburn to kick off SEC play.
It wasn’t always pretty, and at times it was downright stressful, but this is exactly the kind of grit Head Coach Mike White has been trying to instill in Athens. Georgia moves to 13-1 on the season, proving that their high-scoring non-conference run wasn’t a fluke.
A Buzzer-Beater That Should Have Broken Them
When Auburn’s Kevin Overton hit that fading, falling-away jumper at the buzzer to tie the game at the end of regulation, the air didn’t just leave the arena; it packed its bags and took a flight out of Hartsfield-Jackson. Auburn had trailed by five with 12 seconds left. That kind of collapse usually lingers. Most teams would fold, hanging their heads entering the extra period.
But this Georgia squad just isn’t built that way. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they reset. They took a punch that would have knocked out a lesser team and decided to swing back harder.
Wilkinson Plays Hero On One Good Leg
The story of overtime wasn’t just about scoring; it was about toughness. Georgia Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, who had already torched the Tigers for a chunk of his 31 points, looked like he was done. He tweaked something, hobbling up the court, looking like he needed a trainer, not the ball.
So, naturally, what does he do? He drains a contested three-pointer to give Georgia the lead. Then, he does it again. Wilkinson finished with a game-high 31 points, but those six points in overtime were legendary. It is one thing to fill up the stat sheet when you’re feeling fresh; it’s another to put the team on your back when you can barely walk.
Somto Cyril Hosts a Block Party
While Wilkinson was handling the offense, Somto Cyril decided to turn the paint into a no-fly zone. The big man, who had his own injury scare earlier in the game, was an absolute menace in overtime.
On a single Auburn possession, Cyril swatted away two shots, essentially telling the Tigers, “Not in my house.” When the game was on the line, and Auburn’s guards tried to drive for a quick bucket, Cyril was there again to alter the shot. His presence allowed Georgia to maintain a slim lead when the offense stalled.
A Statement Win For Georgia
Auburn threw everything it had at Athens. They had the buzzer-beaters, the runs, and a 25-point performance from Tahaad Pettiford. But Georgia had the depth. Smurf Millender came off the bench to drop 24 points, proving that this team isn’t a one-man show.
This win answers the big question looming over the program: Could their high-octane offense translate to the grind of the SEC? The answer is a resounding yes. They took Auburn’s best shot, survived a heartbreaking regulation finish, and still found a way to win.
