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Vandy turns it on late to down Georgia

Feb 17, 2011 - 3:33 AM Athens, GA (Sports Network) - John Jenkins finished with a game-high 21 points as No. 18 Vanderbilt erased a 13-point deficit, and topped Georgia, 64-56, at Stegeman Coliseum.

The Commodores (19-6, 7-4 SEC) trailed 50-37 just over the midway point of the second half, and outscored the Bulldogs 27-6 down the stretch on the way to their fourth straight win. Rod Odom added 11 points while Festus Ezeli posted 10 points with 12 rebounds for the victors.

"It was a weird game," Vandy coach Kevin Stallings said. "The first 20 minutes neither team could make a shot, and then for the next 10 minutes they made shots and then for the last 10 minutes we made them."

Gerald Robinson led Georgia (17-8, 6-5) with 15 points, however, he was only held to five points on 2-of-8 from the field in the second half. Dustin Ware scored 12 on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc in the loss.

The Bulldogs have dropped two of three overall and four of their last six at home.

"That's a tough loss," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "Vanderbilt shot great from the three-point line in the second half and beat us badly on the glass."

A Robinson three-pointer at 10:40 gave the Bulldogs the 50-37 advantage, and after Odom and Travis Leslie traded triples, Jenkins connected on a long basket at 9:35 to start a 24-3 run to end the game. Jenkins scored 18 in the run, including three straight shots from beyond the arc to begin the comeback.

Jenkins added another three-pointer with 3:52 remaining to tie the game at 55-55, and his jumper just over a minute later give the Commodores their first lead since 3-2.

Georgia kept it a one-possession game in the final minute, and it was Jenkins adding a pair from the line with 20 seconds remaining to widen Vandy's lead to four, 60-56.

Jeffery Taylor and Jenkins drained free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.

"Our kids played hard but Vanderbilt shot the ball well in the second half and you have to give them credit for that," Fox continued.

Robinson paced Georgia with 10 points in the first half. Ware added six and although the Bulldogs shot a subpar 35.7 percent from the field they took a 27-21 lead into the break.

Game Notes

Vanderbilt leads the all-time series, 84-48...Entering the game both teams were tied for second place in the SEC East behind Florida (9-2)...Taylor grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the victors...Jenkins finished 5-of-10 from beyond the arc...Leslie added nine points and 11 rebounds in the loss.