Georgia Georgia/Tennessee Tennessee Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

After the Vols (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) held a tenuous 66-63 lead with 6:32 left, Georgia went on a 15-0 run that included the last four of 10 straight free throws.

Layne scored nine of his 21 points as Georgia (15-11, 8-5 Southeastern Conference) went ahead 78-66 with 2:30 left en route to an 88-76 victory Wednesday night.

Terrence Woods was fouled while shooting a 3 and broke Tennessee's drought with two free throws.

But it was too late.

The Vols couldn't find a way to stop Georgia and the fans were already headed toward the exits. The remaining fans heckled coach Jerry Green and booed among small smatterings of applause.

"Especially when I hit the long 2 and we were up 71-66, I saw them panic. All the guys did. We took it to them," Layne said. "I think they were looking around at each other like they really didn't know who was going to take over the team."

That's the way it's been for Tennessee (18-9, 5-8), getting closer but not able to put together a game-winning run, during their five-game losing streak and fall from a No. 4 (AP) ranking.

The Vols hadn't lost five in a row since the last five games of Kevin O'Neill's coaching career in 1997.

"I have never experienced a season like this or a time like this in my 32 years of coaching," Green said. "I don't have the answers."

The players and coaches have scheduled a meeting for Thursday afternoon to search for the answers.

"There is something we didn't do. We didn't make easy baskets also," Tennessee's Ron Slay said. "D.A. Layne went off and separated the game for us, so we have to counter that."

Anthony Evans had 18 points and 14 rebounds for Georgia, while reserves Adrian Jones and Chris Daniels scored 16 and 12 points respectively.

The Bulldogs, winners of two straight since a four-game losing streak, held onto their third-place in the SEC East and swept the regular-season series with the Vols. Georgia won for the first time in Thompson-Boling Arena since Jan. 29, 1997.

"This was a huge win," Georgia coach Jim Harrick said. "Winning twice against Tennessee is big."

Tennessee was led by Ron Slay with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus Haislip had 16, Isiah Victor 14 and Tony Harris 10.

Georgia outrebounded the Vols 42-39 and shot 30-of-60 from the field, but Tennessee helped with its lapses on defense and bad decisions on offense.

In one case, the Vols cut it to 54-53 after Victor made two free throws with 11:45 left and another free throw tied it at 56. But the defense failed on the ensuing possession as it had over and over during the losing streak.

Steven Thomas missed a shot, Rashad Wright grabbed the rebound and reset the offense for the Bulldogs. Evans was fouled and made two free throws, and Slay picked up his fourth foul on the next possession and Evans made two more to cut the lead to 62-61 with 7:41 remaining. Daniels made two more free throws 30 seconds later, and Georgia was back in the lead 63-62.

The last minutes finished off the Vols.

"We're going to grind it out. The last five minutes we were going to see who wanted it more. I think that is what we did," Layne said.

Tennessee started strong with a 17-6 lead after Haislip's basket with 12:46 remaining before halftime. But Georgia responded with a 15-7 run, during which the Vols were scoreless for 2½ minutes, to cut the lead to 23-22 with 7:49 left.

"They started the run early, we started ours late," Layne said. "Thank God the run came when it came."

Green, under increasing criticism in recent weeks, suspended center Charles Hathaway for the game for missing practice Tuesday. Hathaway, a 6-foot-10 senior, had started all but one game this season.

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Georgia Clubhouse

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