Tennessee Edges Georgia In Overtime Thriller For Barnes Milestone

The Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia, was buzzing with anticipation on January 28, 2026, as the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers clashed in a high-octane SEC men’s basketball showdown. By the end of the night, fans witnessed a contest that will be talked about for years—a razor-thin 86-85 overtime victory for Tennessee, marked by dramatic swings, individual heroics, and a milestone for Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes.

From the opening tip, both teams came out swinging, trading baskets and defensive stops. Neither side led by more than four points in the first ten minutes, setting the stage for a seesaw battle. Georgia, riding the hot hand of sophomore forward Kanon Catchings, surged ahead midway through the first half. Catchings was electric, draining four of his first five three-point attempts and racking up 14 points before halftime. The Bulldogs, aided by their sharp perimeter shooting, built a 30-23 lead with just over six minutes left in the half.

Tennessee, however, refused to let the deficit grow. The Volunteers’ relentless effort on the offensive glass—snagging 15 offensive rebounds to Georgia’s three in the first half—kept them within striking distance, even as their shooting cooled. Senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, in the midst of his third consecutive 20-point performance, provided stability and scoring for the Vols. Still, Georgia held a 34-28 advantage at the break, punctuated by a buzzer-beating floater from junior guard Marcus Millender.

The Volunteers came out firing in the second half, embarking on a blistering 19-10 run over the first five minutes. Gillespie orchestrated the offense with poise, and freshman forward Nate Ament and redshirt sophomore J.P. Estrella chipped in crucial buckets. Tennessee’s field-goal percentage soared as they hit nine of their first ten shots in the half, flipping the deficit into a 66-60 lead with under seven minutes to play.

But Georgia, showing the grit that’s become their trademark this season, clawed back. Jordan Ross and Smurf Millender, the latter finishing with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, ignited the Bulldogs with timely shots and defensive stops. With just over three minutes remaining, Georgia had trimmed Tennessee’s lead to a single point. The tension in Stegeman Coliseum was palpable as the teams exchanged buckets and free throws in the final minute. Gillespie hit a clutch free throw to make it 74-72 with 19 seconds left, but Millender answered with a driving layup with 3.4 seconds on the clock, knotting the score at 74 and sending the game to overtime.

In the extra session, the Volunteers seized momentum behind a corner three-pointer from Ament and a series of gritty plays on the boards. Estrella and senior forward Felix Okpara dominated the glass, each pulling down seven offensive rebounds—a staggering feat that matched Georgia’s entire team output in that category. Tennessee’s 26 offensive rebounds set a new season high, fueling a 24-4 advantage in second-chance points.

With 2:26 left in overtime, Tennessee held a six-point lead, but Georgia refused to fold. The Bulldogs mounted a 7-4 run, narrowing the gap to three with just 15 seconds remaining. Georgia had possession and a chance to tie, but Tennessee’s defense, switching schemes and denying open looks, forced a scramble. According to Georgia head coach Mike White, “We ran some action to get Blue [Cain] potentially downhill to his right hand, and then we were running some misdirection pin down toward the top of the key action with Smurf [Millender] which we’ve had a lot of success with him getting open ones, and they switched it. They did more switching tonight. I’d hate to speak for Rick [Barnes], but I think they did more so than they have in any game this year. Which tells you we were doing some good things to get them playing a little bit differently.”

Ultimately, the Bulldogs couldn’t find a clean look from three, and Okpara’s free throw with 1.1 seconds remaining put Tennessee up by three. Millender’s last-second layup cut it to one, but time expired before Georgia could attempt a game-winning shot. The Volunteers escaped with a heart-stopping 86-85 win, marking their sixth straight victory over the Bulldogs and their third consecutive win in Athens.

For Tennessee, the triumph was especially sweet for head coach Rick Barnes, who notched his 850th career victory. “Just so much respect for Mike White. I think he’s truly one of the best coaches in the country. I’ve always had great admiration for him. That’s a really hard team to prepare for because he’s just going to get the most out of his guys,” Barnes said after the game.

Gillespie finished with 21 points, six assists, and four three-pointers, leading a balanced Volunteers attack. Ament added 19 points, Estrella contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, and Bishop Boswell posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Okpara’s 11 boards and clutch free throws proved pivotal in the closing moments.

Georgia’s effort was equally commendable. Catchings led all scorers with a season-high 22 points and seven rebounds, while Millender’s 19 points and four assists kept the Bulldogs in the hunt. Ross chipped in 10 points, and Georgia’s bench outscored Tennessee’s 32-10—a testament to the Bulldogs’ depth.

Despite the loss, Coach White praised his team’s resilience: “I thought we played really hard. It’s a really tough loss for our guys. We had some plays there late regulation. We had a two-on-one. We had some free throw opportunities. They had some shots that they just made. 24 to 4 paint points. It’s tough to overcome 26 offensive rebounds when you give that up. It’s just tough to overcome to the fact that we still had a chance in overtime. Despite those numbers show you that we were flying around and doing some good things.”

The Volunteers’ dominance on the glass was the story of the night, as they outrebounded Georgia 52-27 and set a season high with 26 offensive boards. Their relentless pursuit of second-chance points ultimately tipped the scales in their favor. As Gillespie noted, Tennessee’s ability to “keep fighting for every loose ball” was the difference maker.

The win improved Tennessee’s record to 14-6 overall and 4-3 in SEC play, while Georgia dropped to 16-5 and 4-4 in the conference. The Volunteers now set their sights on a Saturday night matchup against Auburn at Food City Center, while the Bulldogs prepare to host Texas A&M in Stegeman Coliseum earlier that same day.

With both teams showing flashes of brilliance and resilience, the SEC race is heating up. If this clash was any indication, fans should buckle up for more drama as the season unfolds.