Georgia continues improbable run

ATLANTA – They survived weeks of speculation about their coach’s job status. They survived playing two SEC Tournament games in one day. They even survived a storm the Georgia Dome.

Now, if Georgia survives one more game today, it will be the unlikeliest member of next week’s NCAA Tournament field. The Bulldogs beat Mississippi State 64-60 in Alexander Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night to advance to today’s SEC Tournament championship game.

The opponent? Arkansas, which Georgia (16-16) beat 82-69 on Jan. 19. The winner of today’s game will earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday’s win was clinched when Billy Humphrey hit two technical free throws to put Georgia ahead 63-60 with 7.6 seconds left. The victory was sealed when Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon missed a 3-pointer with .6 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs had to survive Kentucky 60-56 in overtime in a game earlier in the day just to get to their semifinal date with Mississippi State.