Sahvir Wheeler's two free throws with 32.2 seconds remaining put Georgia on top for good with a 79-75 victory over visiting Samford in a nonconference matchup Saturday at Athens, Ga.

Georgia, which is 5-0 and off to its best start since 2001-2002, was outplayed for the vast majority of the game, not taking its first lead until Wheeler's free throws.

Justin Kier scored a team-high 18 points for Georgia, which had four other players finish in double figures. Wheeler scored 15 points with six assists, Tye Fagan had 15 points and seven rebounds, Andrew Garcia had 11 points and P.J. Horne had 10 points with six rebounds.

Myron Gordon scored a game-high 29 points for Samford (2-2), while Christian Guess added 12 points and Richardson Maitre had 10.

Samford had a chance to pull even with less than 20 seconds remaining, but Triston Chambers and Guess missed from short range before Kier grabbed the rebound for Georgia, drew a foul and made a free throw for a 76-73 lead.

Kier missed his second free throw, but Horne secured the rebound and scored, extending the Georgia advantage to 78-73.

Samford took its largest lead of the second half at 49-41 with 12:57 remaining after Gordon's two free throws before Georgia stormed back. Georgia outscored Samford 34-24 to take its first lead on Wheeler's late free throws.

Georgia got off to a slow start making just three of their first 17 attempts from the field, including 1 of 8 from the 3-point line, enabling Samford to jump out to a 24-11 lead in the game's opening 12 minutes.

Georgia responded by ending the half of on a 20-11 run, which was fueled by three-pointers by Wheeler and Kier, to pull to within 35-31 at intermission.

Samford never trailed during the first half and received a solid production performance from its bench, which accounted for 22 of 35 first-half points, led by Gordon's 12.

--Field Level Media