Georgia basketball was overwhelmed by a fatally explosive Arkansas offense in its sixth straight road loss.
The Bulldogs (16-12, 6-9 SEC) were outmatched on both ends of the floor in a 97-65 loss to the Razorbacks (19-9, 8-7) at a hostile Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
It took the Razorbacks just 10 minutes to establish their dominance, jumping out to a 23-8 lead that kept the notoriously intimidating home crowd happily engaged all night.
Arkansas sank a season-high 11 3-pointers, shooting 55 percent from the field. The Razorbacks were 11-of-13 shooting in the game’s last 11 minutes to kill any comeback hopes for the Bulldogs.
UGA shot just 37 percent, making just 6 of its 18 3-point attempts. Arkansas also dominated Georgia in the turnover battle, 13-5.
Kario Oquendo gave an encouraging offensive performance after scoring just 15 points in his last two games. The Titusville, Florida product led his team with 20 points, 2 rebounds, an assist and a steal.
“Our staff kept telling me that they thought he would have a pretty good game,” Georgia coach Mike White said. “They were optimistic because he went so hard yesterday and he was really locked in in shootaround today.
“Sometimes, these guys, you get a hunch through body language and some of the things that guys are saying.”
The Razorbacks sandwiched a 9-0 first half run with four different 6-point swings to take a 43-23 halftime lead. Oquendo, who finished the half with 10 points, was the only Bulldog who scored more than 3 in the game’s first 20 minutes.
The loss closed the toughest road trip of the season for White’s team, which ran into its second offensive buzzsaw in as many games.
UGA suffered its worst loss of the season against No. 2-ranked Alabama’s elite offense by a 108-59 count on Saturday.
“I haven’t had a week like this, and a lot of our guys haven’t, either,” White said. “It’s difficult for all of us.”
Georgia returns to its well-protected Stegeman Coliseum, where it boasts a 13-2 record, to face a sharpshooting Missouri squad at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Bulldogs finish the year with two winnable games against Florida and South Carolina. The Gators will be without their points, rebounds and blocks leader in Colin Castleton, who broke his hand on Wednesday.
The Gamecocks are 3-11 in conference play but will be looking to avenge a crushing 81-78 overtime loss to UGA just over three weeks ago.
“12 days, three games, we’re promised the SEC Tournament,” White said. “We’re promised at least four. What are we going to do with it?”
