Georgia’s last (on-court) victory in the NCAA Tournament, which was ultimately vacated because of NCAA sanctions, resulted more than 23 years ago on March 15, 2002. Back when a Big Mac cost only $2.39, while Mark Richt was preparing for just his second season as Georgia’s head football coach…
Early on against Georgia in the opening round of the East Regional in Chicago, it was apparent why 14th-seeded Murray State had been only a nine-point underdog to the three-seeded Bulldogs. Coached by Tevester Anderson, a Georgia assistant under Hugh Durham for nearly a decade, the Racers appeared sneaky good and prime to pull an upset as they jumped out to a 14-point first-half lead.
Murray State led Georgia as late as the 14:30 mark in the second half before the Bulldogs’ Jarvis Hayes caught fire. After scoring 11 points in the first half, the sophomore forward totaled 20 on 9 of 12 shooting in the second half. For the game, he scored 31 points on 14 of 22 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and had four assists.
Hayes’ twin brother, Jonas Hayes, scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds coming off the bench in relief of starting center Steve Thomas, who had flu-like symptoms.
Still, according to head coach Jim Harrick, Georgia’s “biggest contribution” came from Rashad Wright. The sophomore guard from Statesboro scored 16 points and dished out 10 assists—the last of which was finished off with an alley-oop off-the-glass dunk by a trailing Jarvis Hayes.
“It’s my first tournament and I have a lot of emotion,” Hayes said following the rare tournament win for the Bulldogs. “I wanted to make a statement and we showed a lot of excitement.”
Early on against Georgia in the opening round of the East Regional in Chicago, it was apparent why 14th-seeded Murray State had been only a nine-point underdog to the three-seeded Bulldogs. Coached by Tevester Anderson, a Georgia assistant under Hugh Durham for nearly a decade, the Racers appeared sneaky good and prime to pull an upset as they jumped out to a 14-point first-half lead.
Murray State led Georgia as late as the 14:30 mark in the second half before the Bulldogs’ Jarvis Hayes caught fire. After scoring 11 points in the first half, the sophomore forward totaled 20 on 9 of 12 shooting in the second half. For the game, he scored 31 points on 14 of 22 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and had four assists.
Hayes’ twin brother, Jonas Hayes, scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds coming off the bench in relief of starting center Steve Thomas, who had flu-like symptoms.
Still, according to head coach Jim Harrick, Georgia’s “biggest contribution” came from Rashad Wright. The sophomore guard from Statesboro scored 16 points and dished out 10 assists—the last of which was finished off with an alley-oop off-the-glass dunk by a trailing Jarvis Hayes.
“It’s my first tournament and I have a lot of emotion,” Hayes said following the rare tournament win for the Bulldogs. “I wanted to make a statement and we showed a lot of excitement.”
