2014 NIT: Georgia season ends with 79-71 loss to Louisiana Tech

Georgia put up a valiant effort in the second half but had dug themselves just too big of a hole. The Bulldogs' season ends with a 79-71 loss to Louisiana Tech in the second round of the 2014 NIT.

Things couldn't have started any worse for the Bulldogs who trailed 18-2 just five minutes in and were forced to play uphill for the remainder of the game. Georgia trailed by as many as 26 points in the first half as they struggled with Louisiana Tech's pressure and an offensive barrage from three-point range. Tech hit seven of its first eight three-point attempts while building the big lead.

Georgia was once again plagued by turnovers which played right into Louisiana Tech's hands. The Bulldogs turned it over 13 times in the first half and trailed 46-27 at the intermission.

Predictably Louisiana Tech cooled off in the second half and Georgia did a better job of taking care of the basketball. They slowly started to chip away at the lead in much of the same way they have during the season with Charles Mann and company attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line.

Marcus Thornton converted 1-2 at the line to cut the lead to just seven with over four minutes remaining but Louisiana Tech quickly responded with four straight points to push the lead back to eleven. Mann cut it to 10 with another free throw but Kenneth Smith made it 13 with a three pointer with just 2:37 remaining.

The Bulldogs would make one last charge behind freshman J.J. Frazier who scored eight points in the final two minutes. Frazier banked in a long three to cut the lead to 75-71 with just 15 seconds left but Alex Hamilton sealed the win with a pair of free throws moments later.

On one hand you can applaud the Bulldogs for their effort in coming back but at the same time you have to question how they could fall behind by such a large margin at home in front of a loud and enthusiastic crowd.

Georgia finished the game with 19 turnovers giving them 41 in the two NIT games. The Bulldogs simply don't have the offensive firepower to overcome that and as was mentioned earlier, it played right into Louisiana Tech's hands.

Frazier ended up leading the Bulldogs in scoring with 15 points off the bench. Mann added 13 points and six rebounds but was saddled with seven turnovers. Brandon Morris scored eight of his 10 in the first half while Thornton and Kenny Gaines ended with nine each. Hamilton led Louisiana Tech with 20 points while Chris Anderson chipped in 18.