Foul shooting derails Georgia in humiliating overtime loss to Iona, 81-78
Georgia's Brandon Morris gets his shot contested by Iona's Curtis Dennis (33) and Tavon Sledge during the Bulldogs' 81-78 overtime loss on Saturday. (AP photo by Richard Hamm)
ATHENS – You got the feeling when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer, this might be Georgia’s night.
It wasn’t.
Instead, the Bulldogs did what has been typical of them this season. They missed free throws and key shots down the stretch and watched in disbelief as Iona made all the clutch plays to win 81-78 in overtime.
The loss dropped Georgia to 2-7 – its worst nine-game start since 1970 — and adds to the list of defeats to small-time opponents, including Youngstown State and Southern Miss. Mercer (5-5) is up next on Tuesday.
The Gaels, a New York team out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, improved to 4-4.
“That was a tough loss,” Georgia coach Mark Fox said. “I’m sick of losing, as our team is, but we’ve got to play better basketball. That’s taking nothing away from Iona because they made a lot of big baskets to beat us. You have to give them credit for that. But we missed 16 free throws in the second half on and it’s hard to win basketball games when you do that.”
Georgia’s numbers from the foul line were mind-boggling. The Bulldogs missed nine of 15 free throws in the five-minute overtime period. That’s after missing four of five in the final 6:17 of regulation. They missed a total of 16 after halftime and were 20 of 37 for the game.
“I think we’ve shot over 6,000 free throws in practice,” said Fox, whose team came in shooting 68.7 percent from the line. “I think it might be over 6,500. And we’re shooting over 75 percent. We haven’t transferred that over to the game and that is extremely tonight. As you see tonight, those are so critical.”
Freshman Brandon Morris — getting his first career starter as junior Marcus Thornton was out with a knee injury — missed two free throws with the Bulldogs leading 66-63 with 1:11 remaining. Iona’s Sean Armand answered with a 3-pointer on the other end and Georgia missed four shots at before the buzzer.
Then freshman point guard Charles Mann, who otherwise had a career night with 18 points and 7 rebounds, missed five of his seven foul shots in overtime.
“I was pretty good (at free throws in high school),” said Mann, who said he made 78 percent from the line at Milton High. “It’s just tough. They played great and we just weren’t able to make our free throws today, me and the team.”
Still Georgia had a chance to tie the game and send it into a second overtime. Nemanja Djurisic stepped to the foul line with the Bulldogs trailing 79-77 with 3.5 seconds left. He swished the first but was short off the front rim with the second and the Gaels closed out the game from their foul line.
“We’ve got to learn how to finish,” said Caldwell-Pope, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds but also missed two fouls shots in overtime. “We always compete, we’ve just got to learn how to finish.”
Iona was led by Lamont “MoMo” Jones, a transfer from Arizona who came in eighth in the nation in scoring at 21.7 points per game. He finished with a game-high 25 points on 9-of-20 shooting. The Gaels attempted 36 3-pointers, making 12 of them.
Georgia dominated inside, getting 16 points and 10 rebounds from Donte Williams and 12 and 7 from Morris. The Bulldogs out-rebounded their opponent 48-26.
Georgia trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half but came storming back. Caldwell-Pope’s shot from beyond midcourt at the halftime buzzer gave the Bulldogs a 36-35 lead at intermission.
They built a 48-41 lead by the 13:08 mark of the second half. But after the Gaels called timeout, Fox subbed Vincent Williams and Kenny Gaines for Mann and Caldwell-Pope and Iona needed just 65 seconds to tie the game at 48-all.
Iona tied the game on Armond’s 3-pointer with 54 seconds to go in regulation, but Caldwell-Pope missed a driving layup and the Bulldogs missed three subsequent put-back chances as time ran out.
“Our team has not learned how to win yet,” Fox said. “We have put ourselves in position, but that’s something you learn as a unit and we obviously haven’t learned that yet.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
83 comments Add your comment
BulldogBen
December 16th, 2012
1:41 pm
Year 4 of the Mark Fox experiment is an unmitigated disaster. Looking directly at another sub .500 year. Simply don’t understand the problem. It’s not like the SEC has been a murderers row the last couple years either. Conference play could get even uglier with Mizzou now on the schedule.
Look into your heart McGarity.
Bad Dawg
December 16th, 2012
4:07 pm
Horrible.
Bad Dawg
December 16th, 2012
4:10 pm
It’s not a matter of learning how to win. If the players don’t know how to do that by now, they never will learn.
SEC
December 16th, 2012
5:11 pm
IONA RUN THIS STATE
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 16th, 2012
5:55 pm
Thornton looks like his knee injury from last yr has become chronic so UGA has to go with untested FR. Even with the FR we should be winning against Iona, etc.
Looks like it could get ugly unless some of these FR turn it around this yr and fast. Very frustrated with the BB program. Fox hasn’t been able to bring in the talent that he’s targeted.
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 16th, 2012
6:13 pm
Iona? Uga lost to Iona? Better keep complaining about the Alabama late hit georgia fans because its going to be an embarrassing winter
stdno2man
December 16th, 2012
6:47 pm
If Caldwell Pope returns Fox can turn this around. He has Morris, Mann and Gaines – all true freshman. He has point guard and Parker coming in from OK. Parker was ranked as high as 23rd in nation. He is first player since Wayman Tisdale to win OK player of year as a sophmore. He won back to back state 5A championships as freshman and sophmore. He is younger brother of Tulsa great Jason Parker. He had over 30 offers including Memphis, Stanford, Univ of OK, OK state, etc.
BTW’s Juwan Parker becomes first sophomore to earn state player of the year honor
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=230&articleid=20110410_230_B11_CUTLIN211665
That70sGAdawg
December 16th, 2012
8:49 pm
Fox needs to go soon the SEC schedule will be ugly ! . Basketball “could” be great here….
Bring back Tubby.
The Monger
December 16th, 2012
8:50 pm
Bored in Newnan, WTH?? Give him time and he’ll get it done? Are you serious? How much time does this man need.?.. IT IS NOW HIS 4TH SEASON AS HEAD COACH!!!!!! HE HAS GOTTEN WORSE THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THESE ARE ALL HIS RECRUITS….LET ME REPEAT THIS….HIS RECRUITS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE 2-7 THIS YEAR, LOSING TO IONA, YOUNGSTOWN STATE, SOUTHERN MISS, EAST TENNESSEE STATE, AND SOUTH FLORIDA!!! I mean how can an SEC team be THIS bad??? He needs to be fired immediately…not given another 4 years to tank what’s left of the UGA basketball program. He is a disgrace, a terrible coach, and in WAY over his head. He needs to resign or be fired…effective immediately.
SteveW
December 16th, 2012
11:28 pm
Problem – We hired Fox and immediately lost Dan miller to GT. then I think fox may have kind of run mayfield off. In April, the only recruit left to sign is a very mediocre specialist backup Pg in Vincent Williams.
Next season – We sign Mr Ga Bb – who has now had 4 knee surgeries, a decent one in Donte, and 2 disastrous Jucos in Brantley and florveus, who are now srs, and have never done anything to this point. Bad move on fox’s part.
Finally in years 3 and 4 fox has decent recruiting years. These are true sophomores and freshman, and are probably 2 years away from truly competing at a high level.
Year 5, 2 mediocre players signed, even though I think juwan may be a good, but fox can’t get talent because of the backlog of younger players.
It will be amazing if Fox can turn this around. I’m on his side, but in the words of Larry, men its looking grim.
Monroe's First Redcoat
December 17th, 2012
12:41 am
Iona. Really. UGA man class of 71 is right. This reminds me of the John Guthrie days. Decent talent not working together, totally outclassed at every turn. Could the Dogs even stay on the floor with Clarke Central HS?
Douglas
December 17th, 2012
6:11 am
The only reason Tech recruits as well as they do is they play in the ACC which is attractive to all of the great players in the state of UGA. If they played outside the ACC, they would not recruit as well. Fox is taking too long to turn this program around. He had two great players when he got here and couldn’t go far with them. I have not been impressed with McGarity as our AD — what great moves has he made since he has been at UGA? None. Even our gymnastics team is no longer a major power — pretty sad.
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 17th, 2012
7:24 am
What an idiot! You want to criticize tha acc in football and use it as an excuse for why uga cannot out recruit tech in basketball. at least be consistent. You georgia fans will make whatever argument you can to defend your mediocrity.
Jomps
December 17th, 2012
7:44 am
Mark Fox needs to go! No recruits and a terrible record. They are a joke and a disgrace to the University.
Mother McCreedy
December 17th, 2012
7:48 am
“And to you yellow maggot yaks on the UGA blog your team stinks also. You barely beat us on your court and it took 3 pointers you normally miss to do it.”
___________________________________________________
Oh, wow, sticks and stones and all that stuff.
Try to remember that GT beat your miserable dwags last year too, and it was in Athens.
And with the victories in baseball last year, it goes without saying that
GEORGIA TECH RUNS THIS STATE!!!
Now you can return to mourning for your wretched football and basketball teams, bless your heart.
Marsha in Forest Park
December 17th, 2012
7:54 am
It’s. Going. To. Be. A. Very. Long. Winter. In. Athens.
PT
December 17th, 2012
8:25 am
At this point in the season they suck! Not sure about Fox anymore.
Jim Mora, Sr
December 17th, 2012
10:31 am
I really thought Fox would get it done the first couple of years here. It’s obvious he cannot recruit (except for Pope). How can we be so poor at every other position?
'94 UGA Alumni
December 17th, 2012
12:25 pm
This is embarassing and we’ll be lucky to win 2 SEC games this year. It wouldn’t surprise me if we go 0-16 in the SEC. I just keep remembering Fox’s comment before the season began about this team being the most enjoyable to coach since he’s been year. Talk about setting us up for disappointment! I wonder if he’d like to retract that statement now.
Erin "spike the ball" Murray
December 17th, 2012
12:26 pm
I am having nightmares.. it’s not Freddy Krueger. Its the Alabama Crimson Tide. Go dawgs.
Statick
December 17th, 2012
1:17 pm
Mark Fox is gone after this year.
Ed
December 17th, 2012
1:19 pm
I love all things Georgia, but when it comes to basketball I’m not sure we’re capable of being humiliated anymore. We should expect better, but no one will ever mistake UGA for a basketball school.
Five More Yards...
December 17th, 2012
2:15 pm
Wow ! Kentucky & Fla. are good every year while UGA just sucks at college basketball. Just don’t play basketball. Don’t field a team.
Dawg Bite
December 17th, 2012
5:53 pm
I do believe that Mercer beat FSU, who usually has a pretty decent team.That doesn’t bode well for UGA, and if I were Mercer, I would commit a lot of fouls and watch the Dogs self destruct again at the line. However, that tactic may not be necessary, as it appears that UGA cannot put the ball in the basket anyway. This has to be the most painful team to try to watch since the days of Jirsa. Does anyone over there in the adm care anything at all about roundball? This program has gone from bad to worse, and it is getting old. Why would anyone go watch this team play, and to think that I use to drive eighty each way on a week night to see them…. not any more!! Say what you will about Herrick, but his teams were pretty good and fun to watch. Not so with CMF and this bunch!
RaleighDawg
December 17th, 2012
7:14 pm
Does anyone know if the Mercer-UGA game (at 11:30 am Tuesday) is going to be televised any where ?
Boise Dawg
December 17th, 2012
9:18 pm
I was hopefull that Mark Fox was the answer. This may be the worst UGA team in my lifetime.. and there is no excuse for it. I realize this program will probably never be elite in basketball, but with all of our athletic department money and resources, we should be competitive and flirting with NCAA bids every year. Also, the fans will come out and support a winner… both Tubby and Harrick’s teams had great fan support and attendance. This program can be rebuilt, but it will take a special coach and Fox is not it…
n1dog
December 17th, 2012
9:54 pm
I’ve seen enough of fox—he needs to go! mcgarity needs to get some big money together, build a big time arena and hire a top coach–no more no names, or assistant types–spend the money and get the best!
GA Girl
December 17th, 2012
10:34 pm
How long is UGA gonna suck in basketball? Why would a recruit want to come here?
Who Me?
December 17th, 2012
11:17 pm
You GT buffoons trolling on a UGA b-ball blog suck. Go get Ken to write your own blog ya candy-asses.
McGarrity needs to bring in a first class coach but UGA is going to have to commit to more bucks to the program and a first class facility. Not the renovated bomb shelter…. We need a coach that can recruit period, and develop talent. Mark Fox has had his time, clearly a Div 1 school with the budget UGA has isn’t enough for him to be successful because there is no excuse in this lame-ass excuse of a program. Here’s hoping we play far better in the SEC conference part of the schedule, but I’m not holding my breath.
Suck it Tech.
Miamidawg
December 18th, 2012
9:48 am
Our team has not learned how to win yet???
Isn’t it the job of the coach to teach them how to win???
SteveW
December 18th, 2012
12:04 pm
Fox’s mistakes:
1) not trying to keep Daniel miller. Debatable
2) seemingly running Mayfield off the team because he wasn’t “his” recruit
3) Signing Jucos Florveus and Brantley – they have done nothing at uga
That’s about all. He can’t help Thompkins and Leslie leaving early, or Thorntons knee issues
Oh yeh, he could’ve have recruited a whole lot better!
Dawg Fud
December 18th, 2012
1:41 pm
I like Coach Fox but he is going to get canned at end of season. Dude will not win 10 games and may be the first guy to winless in SEC.
G-Dawg
December 18th, 2012
3:07 pm
Just have not seen any improvement in Fox’s teams since his hire!! UGA needs to start looking in another direction!