Washington scores 17 as No. 8 Texas A&M uses dominate second half to beat Georgia 69-53
Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington (9) stares down the Georgia bench after dunking the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in College Station, Texas. Credit: AP/Sam Craft
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Solomon Washington scored 17 points and No. 8 Texas A&M used a huge second half run to cruise to a 69-53 win over Georgia on Tuesday night.
Georgia led by eight points early in the second half before Texas A&M took over, using a 22-0 run to make it 50-36 with nine minutes left. Washington started the run with a 3-pointer before a steal by Wade Taylor IV gave the Aggies the ball back. Taylor dished to Washington, who finished with a two-handed dunk.
The Bulldogs made four free throws in the first four minutes of the second half. Their next points didn’t come until Asa Newell made two free throws with 8½ minutes to go and he made two more less than a minute later.
But Georgia did not make a field goal in the second half until a dunk by Newell with 7:20 remaining. Georgia missed 12 consecutive shots and had four turnovers during A&M’s big run.
Henry Coleman III added 13 points for the Aggies (19-5, 8-3 Southeastern Conference), who extended their winning streak to four games.
Georgia (16-9, 4-8) was led by Silas Demary Jr., who had 19 points.
Takeaways
Georgia: The Bulldogs need more consistency after playing great in the first half before falling apart after halftime.
Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) tries to drive the lane against Georgia guard Silas Demary Jr. (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in College Station, Texas. Credit: AP/Sam Craft
Texas A&M: The Aggies need to avoid slow starts with big games down the stretch against No. 1 Auburn, No. 3 Florida and fifth-ranked Tennessee.
Key moment
The five points by Washington that jumpstarted Texas A&M’s offense and the 22-0 run that put the game away.
Key stat
Georgia’s Blue Cain had 15 points in first half as the Bulldogs built a 32-23 lead, but managed just two after halftime.
Up next
Texas A&M hosts Arkansas Saturday, and No. 21 Missouri visits Georgia that day.
