Associated Press

ATHENS, Ga. — It may be too late to revive Georgia’s NCAA hopes, but Kenny Gaines isn’t ready to give up on the season.

J.J. Frazier scored 26 points and Gaines had 23 while leading the defensive effort on Stefan Moody and Georgia beat Ole Miss 80-66 on Saturday.

Frazier and Gaines combined to make 10 of 18 3-pointers.

“I just feel like I played desperate,” Gaines said. “That was kind of the team motto.”

Yante Maten had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Georgia (15-12, 8-8 Southeastern Conference), which ended a three-game losing streak. Perhaps most disturbing was the most recent loss at Auburn, tied for 12th in the league.

“Our spirit was down because I think they felt our (NCAA) bubble burst, and maybe it has,” said Georgia coach Mark Fox.

Moody, guarded by Gaines must of the game, was held to 15 points, including 10 in the second half. He fouled out with 1:45 remaining. Moody, who leads the SEC with his average of 23 points per game, has 19 games with at least 20 points.

Fox questioned his team’s effort at the start of Wednesday’s loss at Auburn and was happy with the response against the Rebels.

“We talked a lot today about playing with determination and I was pleased with our team’s effort,” Fox said.

Anthony Perez led Ole Miss (18-11, 8-8) with 19 points and nine rebounds. The Rebels suffered a damaging loss to their NCAA tournament hopes.

“The seniors’ season is right there on the line, and their effort was greater than ours,” said Perez of the Bulldogs. “That’s why they won the game.”

Georgia took a 38-34 advantage in rebounds.

“They really had a lot of second chances and third chances,” Perez said.

Three early 3-pointers from Gaines helped Georgia lead 25-13.