CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a heart-stopping finish at TD Arena, the Georgia Bulldogs remained undefeated, escaping with a narrow victory over the Xavier Musketeers on Friday night. A late three-pointer proved to be the difference in a game defined by a massive first-half surge and a furious second-half comeback.

The Bulldogs improved their record to a perfect 6-0, while the Musketeers fell to an even 3-3 in front of a crowd of 4,856.

Georgia appeared to be running away with the contest early, building a commanding 53-41 lead by halftime. The Bulldogs’ offense was firing on all cylinders in the opening period, but the script flipped dramatically after the break. Xavier’s defense tightened, and their shooters found their range, methodically chipping away at the substantial deficit.

The Musketeers’ comeback set the stage for a frantic final minute. With Georgia trailing by two points and the clock winding down, guard Marcus Millender connected on a critical three-point field goal with just 11 seconds remaining, putting the Bulldogs back in front.

Xavier had one final opportunity to win the game, but a missed jump shot by All Wright as time expired sealed the victory for Georgia.

The contest was a tale of two halves statistically. Georgia’s first-half explosion gave way to a more subdued second half where they scored only 25 points. Xavier, conversely, found its footing after halftime, outscoring the Bulldogs 36-25 over the final 20 minutes.

Despite the loss, Xavier was more efficient on offense, posting an offensive rating of 105.4 on 73 possessions compared to Georgia’s 103.2 on 76 possessions. The Musketeers also won the battle from beyond the arc, making 11 three-pointers to Georgia’s 7. However, Xavier’s 12-of-19 performance from the free throw line left crucial points on the board.

Georgia’s interior presence was a decisive factor. The Bulldogs dominated points in the paint, outscoring Xavier 40-30, and showcased a formidable defense with nine total blocks. They also capitalized on transition opportunities, racking up 15 fastbreak points to Xavier’s eight.

Xavier was led by a balanced scoring attack. Jovan Milicevic, a 6-foot-10 forward from Toronto, Canada, and Tre Carroll, a 6-foot-7 forward from Port Charlotte, Florida, each scored 19 points. Carroll added an assist in 34 minutes of action. Filip Borovicanin, a 6-foot-9 guard from Belgrade, Serbia, orchestrated much of the offense, contributing 12 points and a team-high four assists.

For Georgia, Blue Cain led the way with 16 points. The 6-foot-5 guard from Knoxville, Tennessee, was a key contributor throughout the game. Marcus Millender, whose late three-pointer secured the win, finished with 12 points and two assists. Dylan James provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and a block.

The game was a nail-biter that defied pregame expectations. Georgia entered as a significant favorite, but Xavier’s resilient second-half performance nearly delivered an upset. The total combined score of 155 also fell short of the projected over/under line.

Georgia will look to continue its unbeaten streak in its next contest against Clemson, also at TD Arena in Charleston, on Sunday. Xavier will remain in Charleston to face West Virginia on Sunday as both teams continue their early-season tournaments.