WASHINGTON, D.C. - It was only a matter of time - and talent.

Georgia's Cindella-esque run came to an end on Thursday afternoon, but for a while it appeared as though the Bulldogs would be one step away from becoming just the third No. 14 seed to advance to the Sweet 16.

Georgia controlled the first 30-plus minutes, but Xavier made its run midway though the second half and finally took the lead for good when Dante Jackson made a 3-pointer.

The final score (73-61) wasn't indicative of how the game was in question until the final minute of so.

How about the fact that Xavier went to the line 33 times to Georgia's five?

But the Bulldogs still showed they had some fight left even after an emotional SEC tournament in which they won four games - and three in the span of 36 hours.

Xavier had too many weapons and balance down the stretch while Georgia was largely dependent on a couple of guys - Terrence Woodberry, Sundiata Gaines and Billy Humphrey - for its offensive production.

Sean Miller's plan was to pressure the ball more in the first half. The players just didn't do it.

"We weren't as tough or aggressive," Miller said. "We weren't ourselves."

Miller got into his players at halftime - and senior Stanley Burrell, in particular - and they responded in the second half.

"It started with defense," Xavier forward Derrick Brown said. "They only had three turnovers. You can't push the ball if they're taking the ball out of the net every time."

Brown said Xavier didn't play well at all, calling the victory "ugly."

"Sometimes you've got to win ugly in the tournament," he said.