Tennessee Edges Georgia in Overtime Thriller

Volunteers overcome late comeback to earn 86-85 win over Bulldogs

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:47am

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In a close SEC matchup, the Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 86-85 in overtime on Wednesday night in Athens. Tennessee was led by Ja'Kobi Gillespie's 21 points and 6 assists, while Nate Ament added 19 points. Georgia's Kanon Catchings scored a season-high 22 points, but the Bulldogs couldn't complete their late comeback in regulation, falling short in the extra period.

Why it matters

This hard-fought victory extends Tennessee's winning streak over Georgia to six games and marks the 850th career win for Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes. The game showcased the competitiveness of the SEC conference, with both teams battling until the final seconds.

The details

Tennessee trailed by as many as 7 points in the first half but rallied to tie the game at 45-45 early in the second half. The teams exchanged the lead until Tennessee built a 66-60 advantage with under 7 minutes to play. However, Georgia's Marcus 'Smurf' Millender hit a spinning layup with 3.6 seconds left to force overtime. In the extra period, Tennessee's J.P. Estrella scored 5 of his 17 points to help the Volunteers hold on for the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, January 29, 2026 in Athens, Georgia.
  • Tennessee led by as many as 6 points in the second half before Georgia tied the game late in regulation.
  • The game went to overtime after Georgia's Marcus 'Smurf' Millender hit a layup with 0.6 seconds left to tie the score at 75-75.

The players

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

Tennessee's leading scorer with 21 points and 6 assists.

Nate Ament

Tennessee player who scored 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half.

Kanon Catchings

Georgia's leading scorer with a season-high 22 points and 7 rebounds.

Marcus 'Smurf' Millender

Georgia player who scored 19 points, including a key layup to force overtime.

Rick Barnes

Tennessee's head coach who earned his 850th career win with this victory.

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What they’re saying

“This was a hard-fought game between two talented SEC teams. I'm proud of the way our guys battled back and found a way to win in overtime.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach

“We had our chances to win it in regulation, but Tennessee made the plays down the stretch to pull it out. Our guys competed hard and I'm proud of their effort.”

— Tom Crean, Georgia Head Coach

What’s next

Tennessee will look to build on this win as they continue SEC play, while Georgia will try to rebound in their next conference matchup.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth thriller showcased the depth and competitiveness of the SEC, with two evenly matched teams battling until the final seconds. Tennessee's experience and late-game execution proved to be the difference in this hard-fought conference clash.