Considering Georgia’s must-win basketball game against LSU tomorrow night, I thought I’d dig up what was considered, at the time, one of Georgia basketball’s most significant victories of all-time.
Besides the Bulldogs’ win over the Tigers in Athens in 1990, the upset in the 1981 SEC Tournament is likely Georgia’s most significant win over LSU in program history.
LSU not only had the lead with just under four minutes remaining, but senior guard Ethan Martin, a 75 percent free-throw shooter on the season, had been fouled by Georgia’s James Banks and was to shoot two free throws.
Martin missed both shots.
From there, Georgia went on a tear, outscoring the Tigers, 17-8, in the game’s final three minutes, including making 11 of 11 free throws (Georgia’s other six points, on three field goals, are in the video).
Before finishing off LSU in the final three minutes, Dominique Wilkins, “The Human Highlight Film,” had been limited to 10 points in 37 minutes of play after entering the contest averaging 23.9 points per game.
The loss was only the third all season in 31 games for LSU. The Tigers would eventually reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament and end their year with what remains a school-record 31 wins.
The upset win propelled Georgia to its first of what has only been five all-time appearances in the championship game of the modern-day (beginning in 1978) SEC Tournament.
How significant was the win over LSU in the 1981 SEC Tournament in Birmingham? Perhaps Georgia’s “No. 1 man” at the time said it best.
“It’s the best win we’ve ever had,” Wilkins said after the game. “This game meant so much because for the first time in history, Georgia [basketball] is on the map.”
Besides the Bulldogs’ win over the Tigers in Athens in 1990, the upset in the 1981 SEC Tournament is likely Georgia’s most significant win over LSU in program history.
LSU not only had the lead with just under four minutes remaining, but senior guard Ethan Martin, a 75 percent free-throw shooter on the season, had been fouled by Georgia’s James Banks and was to shoot two free throws.
Martin missed both shots.
From there, Georgia went on a tear, outscoring the Tigers, 17-8, in the game’s final three minutes, including making 11 of 11 free throws (Georgia’s other six points, on three field goals, are in the video).
Before finishing off LSU in the final three minutes, Dominique Wilkins, “The Human Highlight Film,” had been limited to 10 points in 37 minutes of play after entering the contest averaging 23.9 points per game.
The loss was only the third all season in 31 games for LSU. The Tigers would eventually reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament and end their year with what remains a school-record 31 wins.
The upset win propelled Georgia to its first of what has only been five all-time appearances in the championship game of the modern-day (beginning in 1978) SEC Tournament.
How significant was the win over LSU in the 1981 SEC Tournament in Birmingham? Perhaps Georgia’s “No. 1 man” at the time said it best.
“It’s the best win we’ve ever had,” Wilkins said after the game. “This game meant so much because for the first time in history, Georgia [basketball] is on the map.”
