The Bulldogs (2-1) trailed 53-42 with 8:48 left, but outscored the Eagles (1-2) 19-7 down the stretch. After Dustin Ware’s three-pointer with 57 seconds remaining gave Georgia a 61-59 lead, Eastern Michigan’s Brandon Bowdry hit the second of two free throws to pull the Eagles within one with 38 seconds left.
Georgia missed two free throws in the final 25 seconds, but Antonio Green’s desperation shot at the buzzer came up short to give the Bulldogs a split in their two games in West Lafayette. Georgia will continue play in the consolation bracket with a pair of games next week. Opponents and game sites will be announced Wednesday.
“We feel fortunate, but I’m really proud of our players because they really had to tough this one out,” head coach Dennis Felton said. “We came from 11 down after not having anything to feel good about, and we certainly were losing control of the game. We stopped settling for jump shots and found ways to get it in the paint. That’s when we started to turn it around offensively.”
Corey Butler led Georgia with 12 points while Terrance Woodbury and Ware each added 11. Ware came off the bench and hit four treys—all in the second half.
Georgia led 32-30 at halftime despite shooting 39 percent on 11-of-28 shooting while the Eagles shot 57 percent on 12-of-21 shooting. Eastern Michigan grabbed an early 8-2 advantage, but Georgia answered and took its first lead 14-12 with 9:34 left until halftime and led by as much as seven in the first half.
The Eagles opened the second half on an 11-2 run, and Bowdry’s jumper with 8:56 left gave Eastern Michigan an 11 point advantage, but Georgia scored the next seven points on a pair of jumpers by Jeremy Price and a three by Corey Butler.
Justin Dobbins had 22 points to lead Eastern Michigan.
The Bulldogs return to action Friday against Presbyterian. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern at Stegeman Coliseum.