ATHENS — Georgia controlled much of the game against Kentucky on Tuesday night, but not when it mattered most.
The No. 14-ranked Wildcats (11-3) handed the Bulldogs their first home loss of the season, 78-69, at Stegeman Coliseum.
It’s Kentucky’s 13th-straight win over Georgia dating back to 2013, and it snaps what had been an 8-game home court win streak.
Anthony Edwards scored 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, but the projected NBA lottery was unable to produce any heroics down the stretch for Georgia (10-4).
WATCH: UGA ready for grown man basketball with Kentucky
A sellout crowd of 10,523 that included UGA football coach Kirby Smart, Atlanta Hawks’ star Trae Young and rapper Quavo was on hand to see the nationally-televised ESPN game.
The Wildcats pulled away in the final moments sending Georgia fans to the exits as the final minute ticked off the clock.
Kentucky used an 8-2 run midway through the second half to seize control, going up 58-57 on Immanuel Quickley’s 3-pointer with 8:04 left.
Edwards was on the bench for much of the run, substituted out at the 10:52 mark with UGA up 61-58, and not re-entering until there was 7:41 left and the Bulldogs down 60-57.
Quickly’s trey gave the Wildcats their first lead since the 8:02 mark of the first half, right before Tye Fagan’s drive tied the game at 21-21.
Kentucky stretched the lead to 63-57 before Jordan Harris (10 points) hit a jumper to snap a 10-0 UK run. Tyree Crump followed with a drive to cut the lead to 63-61.
The Bulldogs, however, could not get any closer, as the Wildcats led the remainder of the game.
Nick Richards and Tyrese Maxey led Kentucky with 17 points each.
Georgia held a 37-31 lead at the half, riding an 8-0 run until Ashton Hagans (13 points) hit a 3-pointer with a second left before intermission
The teams traded the lead seven times and were tied on five occasions in the opening 20 minutes.
It was largely a game of runs from the onset.
Edwards hit a jumper and 3-pointer to stake UGA out to a quick 5-0 lead.
Kentucky answered with a 10-0 run, and then moments later, it was Georgia scoring 9 straight points.
The Wildcats and Bulldogs each had 5-0 runs before Georgia’s final spurt and Hagans’ trey.
Georgia returns to action at 6 p.m. on Saturday at No. 5 Auburn (TV: ESPN).
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