Georgia overcame a cold-shooting second half to hold off High Point 49-46 on Wednesday at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga.

The Bulldogs led 33-22 at halftime, behind nine points from guard Kenny Gaines, the reigning SEC Player of the Week. High Point connected on 1 of 8 3-pointers and shot 29.4 percent from the floor overall in the first half.

The Panthers (3-2) made an early push in the second half, but Georgia's defense tightened and held High Point scoreless for a four-minute stretch. The Bulldogs were up nine with 11 minutes to play, before High Point made another run.

A jumper from High Point forward John Brown cut the Georgia lead to three, 42-39, with three minutes to play. The Bulldogs scored only nine points in the first 17 minutes of the second half, allowing the Panthers to get back in the game.

Gaines finished with 12 points and point guard Charles Mann added 13 for the Bulldogs. Mann hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to help Georgia prevail.

High Point forward Lorenzo Cuqini led the Panthers with 12 points and Brown finished with 11.

Georgia (2-1) bounced back from an opening overtime loss to Tennessee-Chattanooga with back-to-back wins.

Georgia goes on the road to face Seton Hall on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.