ATLANTA - Georgia's bid to become only the second team since 1932 to defeat Kentucky three times in one season came to a halt in a 48-second span.
Kentucky senior guard Cliff Hawkins scored a career-high 23 and led the Wildcats on an 8-0 run with less than two minutes left to escape with a 69-60 win over Georgia in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament Friday at the Georgia Dome.
Kentucky (24-4), the defending tournament champion, plays South Carolina, an 85-64 winner over LSU, today at 1 in the semifinals.
"Every possession counted; that's the way Georgia makes you play," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. "We really didn't have the game until the end. As a team we did what we had to do to secure the win."
Georgia (16-13) came back from a double-digit deficit to tie at 52 on a 3-pointer by Rashad Wright (team-high 23 points) with 5:35 left. But with an opportunity to take its first lead of the second half, senior Jonas Hayes missed a free throw with 4:41 left, opening the door for Kentucky's run.
Kentucky led 56-55 when Hawkins hit a 3-pointer that began the winning run, leading to a 64-55 advantage. Georgia was hurt by 6-of-16 shooting from the free-throw line.
Kentucky's Gerald Fitch had 15 points and Kelenna Azubuike added 11. Hayes, Chris Daniels and Damien Wilkins each scored 10 for Georgia, which was in need of a win as it sits on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament bid.
VANDY 74, NO. 4 MISS. ST. 70 (OT): The Commodores likely denied the Bulldogs any chance of landing a top seed in the NCAAs.
SEC player of the year Lawrence Roberts, hobbled by a sprained right ankle, had a chance to win the game in regulation for the Bulldogs (25-3) but his 3-pointer at the buzzer clanged off the back of the rim.
Vanderbilt (21-9) then won it in overtime, clinching the victory at the free-throw line - a spot that gave the Commodores trouble most of the night. Julian Terrell put them ahead to stay with a couple of free throws, and Corey Smith sealed it by hitting two more with 20.2 seconds remaining.
Mississippi State was playing its fourth overtime game of the season - and second in a row. Mario Moore scored 17 and Terrell added 16 to lead five Vanderbilt players in double figures.
SOUTH CAROLINA 85, LSU 64: Mike Boynton scored 18, hitting all six of his field goals from beyond the 3-point line, to lead the Gamecocks. Tarence Kinsey and Josh Gonner had 14 points each for South Carolina, which hit 12 of 21 shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
- Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
