BREAKING: Auburn drops SEC opener in an overtime thriller at No. 23 Georgia, 104-100. The Tigers traded haymakers for 45 minutes, but could not slow Georgia’s hot hand. Wilkinson owned the night with 31 points, and he delivered when it mattered most. This felt like March, just in early January.
Final: No. 23 Georgia 104, Auburn 100, overtime
A Wild Start to SEC Play
This was fast, physical, and loud. Auburn pushed the pace and found early rhythm. Georgia answered with poise, and Wilkinson’s shot making kept the Bulldogs in every run. The lead swung back and forth for most of the second half. When the clock showed zeros, we were tied, and the arena buzzed.
Overtime turned on execution. Georgia got the first stop, then hunted the right matchup. Auburn responded with a tough driving finish, but Georgia kept stacking clean trips. One defensive rebound here, two free throws there, and the Bulldogs edged away. Auburn had a final look to extend it, but the shot came up short.
Wilkinson’s 31 Points, and How He Did It
Wilkinson did not just score, he controlled the game. He curled off screens, posted smaller wings, and attacked closeouts. Auburn mixed coverages, and he solved each look with patient footwork and simple counters. He hit a step back late in regulation that felt like a message. In overtime, he got downhill, drew contact, and stayed calm at the line.
Shot Profile that Punished Auburn
- Strong mid range touch, with quick elevation over contests
- Timely threes, mostly off kickouts and rhythm swings
- Attacks in transition, turning live-ball boards into points
Auburn often forced the first miss, then lost Wilkinson on the second action. That is where he beat them, in the scramble after the scramble. When the Tigers doubled, he passed out of it and got it back. The Bulldogs fed him again on the re-post, and he cashed in. Simple basketball, played with nerve.
What This Reveals About Auburn
The Tigers showed real scoring depth. The guards got paint touches. The bigs ran to the rim and forced help. When Auburn spaced the floor and moved the ball, Georgia had to chase. That travel wore the Bulldogs down for stretches. It also put Auburn on the line and kept them in it late.
Still, two issues stood out. First, perimeter discipline wavered. Closeouts were a half step slow, which gave Georgia comfort. Second, the defensive glass hurt. One or two extra Bulldog boards became four or five extra points. In a game this tight, that is the margin.
Auburn’s fix is clear, finish possessions with a body on a body. Limit the second shots, and the defense will travel.
Bruce Pearl’s team will lean on pace and pressure, but the rotation needs a cleaner late-game gear. A couple of overtime possessions got rushed. Auburn settled for the first shot, not the best shot. You win road games in this league with poise, and tonight the Tigers learned that lesson the hard way.
Georgia’s Edge, Built on Details
The Bulldogs won with spacing and patience. They trusted their reads, touched the paint, and kicked to shooters. When Auburn switched, Georgia posted the mismatch without overthinking it. Wilkinson was the finisher, but the support mattered. The guards were steady with the ball in extra time, and the frontcourt kept plays alive.
Georgia also managed the clock. They did not panic late in regulation when Auburn turned up the heat. They got two quality looks in the final minute, one out of a timeout, one off a broken play. That calm showed again in overtime, and that is the mark of a ranked team.
SEC Stakes, Early but Real
Openers do not decide a title race, but they set tone. Georgia protected home court and earned belief. Auburn walked out with a bruise, but also a clear blueprint. Fix the glass, tidy the rotations, and these Tigers will be a problem.
Key takeaways that shape the next month:
- Auburn can create shots against elite defenses, the offense is not the worry
- Defensive rebounding and late-game decision making must rise
- Georgia has a go-to scorer in Wilkinson, and that travels on the road
- The rematch, if we get one in March, will feel big
The Bottom Line
This was an instant classic in Athens. It had pace, power, and a closer who refused to blink. Georgia banked a statement win behind Wilkinson’s 31. Auburn showed the parts of a contender, just not the finish. The SEC grind starts now, and both teams looked built for it. Buckle up, this race is going to be fun 🏀.
