Georgia roars back from 15-point deficit, upends LSU

Kanon Catchings scored 23 points, Jeremiah Wilkinson added 18 and Georgia overcame a 15-point, first-half deficit to run away from LSU 83-71 on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Somto Cyril scored 12 points and Blue Cain had 10 for the Bulldogs (17-6, 5-5), who ended a three-game losing streak.

Max Mackinnon scored 26, Marquel Sutton added 14 and Pablo Tamba finished with 12 rebounds and seven points to lead the Tigers (14-9, 2-8), who played their second consecutive game without starting point guard Dedan Thomas (lower leg injury).

Cain made a 3-pointer to start the second-half scoring and increase Georgia's lead to 45-37. LSU trimmed the lead to four, but another Cain 3-pointer helped the Bulldogs push the lead to 52-43.

Georgia led by nine a second time before Mackinnon, who finished 10 of 10 at the foul line, made six free throws to help the Tigers creep within 57-53. Catchings answered with a 3-pointer that started a 10-2 run that gave the Bulldogs a 67-55 lead.

Catchings' 3-pointer completed an 8-0 run that gave the Bulldogs a 77-60 lead with 4:15 remaining.

The lead never fell below double figures the rest of the way.

Mackinnon made two layups and a 3-pointer as LSU raced to a 9-2 lead. Georgia got within five on multiple occasions before PJ Carter made consecutive 3-pointers to complete a 10-0 spurt that gave the Tigers a 31-16 lead.

Then everything changed.

Catchings and Marcus Millender made consecutive 3-pointers to complete an 8-0 run that pulled the Bulldogs within seven. Michael Nwoko made a dunk to end the run, but Georgia scored the next five points to get within 33-29.

The Bulldogs closed within four before Mackinnon answered with a layup for LSU's final points of the half. Wilkinson scored the first five points and added another field goal during an 11-0 spurt that left Georgia with a 42-37 halftime lead.