ATHENS — Anthony Edwards missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, and Georgia was unable to turn the Tide against Alabama, falling 105-102 in overtime.
It was the third time in the past four games that UGA lost after leading by double digits in the second half.
The Bulldogs (12-11, 2-8 SEC) rallied from a halftime deficit only to blow a 12-point lead at Stegeman Coliseum with football coach Kirby Smart in attendance.
Edwards overcame flu-like symptoms to play 36 minutes and record his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Edwards, who didn’t practice on Friday, was unable to make good on a clean look he set up with a shot fake and a shuffle.
Alabama’s Jon Petty Jr. had split a pair of free throws the previous trip down, giving Georgia 4.3 seconds left to set up the shot.
Georgia freshman Sahvir Wheeler, who dished to Edwards, scored a career-high 24 points and had 8 assists.
Kira Lewis Jr. led all scorers with 37 points to pace Alabama (13-10, 5-5), as the highest scoring team in the SEC lived up to its reputation. The Tide set a school record for points in a true road game.
Alabama snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, bouncing back from a home loss to Tennessee in a game it led by 15 points.
Georgia looked like it was poised to get back on the winning track when it forced overtime.
UGA basketball coach Tom Crean and Smart alike had to be proud of the defensive stop that forced the extra period.
Mike Peake came off the Bulldogs’ bench to draw a charging violation on Lewis with 2.8 seconds left and the game tied 92-92.
Georgia was unable to steal the win, however. Jordan Harris missed a desperation heave from just inside the half-court line at the buzzer.
Rayshaun Hammonds, who scored 20 points, had tied the game his previous trip down the floor, scoring from point-blank range after a Wheeler drive and dish.
Wheeler brought UGA back in the second half. Wheeler’s 3-pointer gave Georgia a 47-46 lead with 19:07 left, the Bulldogs’ first lead since the opening two minutes of play.
Georgia went on a 9-0 run moments later, building the lead up to 65-53 with 14:42 left on a Toumani Camara basket.
The Tide rallied back with a 15-2 run, seemingly unable to miss from the floor, going up 68-67 with 10:37 left on James Bolden’s transition layup.
Hammonds answered with a basket, the Bulldogs briefly reclaiming the lead, but Lewis drove to the basket and scored on a conventional three-point play making it 71-69.
UGA was unable to get back in front. The best the Bulldogs could do was draw even, in the final minute when Hammonds scored with 20 seconds left to tie the game 92-92.
Georgia trailed 45-41 lead at the half, fortunate to not be down more after turning the ball over nine times.
Alabama used a 9-0 to take the early lead, capitalizing on five Georgia turnovers the first five minutes of the game.
The Tide led through the opening half, fending off several Georgia runs including a 9-3 spurt in the final minutes before intermission.
Edwards had just four points on 2-of-6 shooting, but he led the Bulldogs with six rebounds, as UGA battled the Tide even on the boards 18-18 through the first 20 minutes.
Georgia returns to action at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Stegeman Coliseum against South Carolina. The Gamecocks (14-8, 6-4) are coming off a 74-54 home win over Texas A&M on Saturday.
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