ATHENS, Ga. --- It had a March Madness feel in December with Augusta State playing the underdog role of a No. 15 seed.

For 58 minutes, the fifth-ranked Division II Jaguars gave Georgia all it could handle Monday night. The Bulldogs needed a pair of layups by Sundiata Gaines in the waning moments to come back and scrape past Augusta State, 81-74, at Stegeman Coliseum.

The teams traded the lead six times with Georgia finally pulling ahead, 75-73, on a Gaines layup with 1:36 remaining. Gaines added another layup a minute later and the Jaguars couldn't answer.

"It's like a Rocky fight," Augusta State guard Daniel Dixon said. "They gave us some blows. We gave them some blows.

"They gave us the final blow at the end."

After the game ended, the 500 Jaguars fans sitting in the corner of the upper deck chanted "A-S-U" as the players applauded the crowd. Augusta State (4-2) shot 43 percent from the field and led by four at halftime.

Guard Ben Madgen posted a season-high 21 points for the Jaguars, while Dixon added 17. Forward Tyrekus Bowman scored 16 points and guard Steve Smith added 10.

"I'm proud of our team," Bowman said. "We played hard. You have to give respect to Georgia. They're a good solid team.

"We learned a lot about ourselves tonight," Bowman said. "We learned we can play with the best."

Augusta State shot 12-for-26 from three-point range, a statistic that didn't go unnoticed by Georgia coach Dennis Felton.

"They made some incredible shots," he said. "We needed to play well, because if we didn't, they certainly would've gotten us."

Gaines recorded a game-high 24 points as Georgia improved to 5-1. Guard Billy Humphrey added 15 points and Terrance Woodbury had 11.

Georgia had a size advantage at all positions -- the Jaguars started a pair of 5-foot-9 guards in Dixon and Smith -- except center. The Bulldogs had a depth advantage over Augusta State as well.

Center Garret Siler, who was guarded by two players most of the game, posted seven points with 10 rebounds and one block. Siler picked up his fourth foul with 9:40 remaining. Bowman picked up his fourth foul with 8:30 to go.

"It's tough because we only have so many players who can compete at this level and they got tired," Augusta State coach Dip Metress said. "And the foul trouble hurt us a little bit."

Georgia overcame a seven-point deficit early in the second half and took the lead after Dave Bliss blocked a Siler dunk.

In transition, Gaines drove for the layup, and got fouled, bringing the reserved Bulldogs fans to their feet. Gaines tacked on the free throw. Georgia led 55-54 with 12:06 remaining.

Augusta State quickly responded and later led by two when Georgia's Woodbury missed a 3-pointer from the corner. Bliss tried to grab the rebound, but falling out of bounds he threw the ball to Dixon. Dixon tossed it ahead to Bowman for a two-handed, fast-break dunk, sending Metress into a mad celebration at the end of the bench as Georgia called timeout.

"That really lifted our spirits," Madgen said. "That showed them we were here to play. We knew we had a long way to go, but we felt like we were in a good position."

Augusta State led by two when Siler missed the front end of a one-and-one. Then a Bowman three-point attempt from the top of the key rimmed out.

Humphrey knotted the game for the fifth time with two free throws with 2:09 remaining. Then Gaines pulled off his late heroics to prevent any upset bid.

"We knew we had the talent to pull off the upset," Madgen said. "Just a few plays down the stretch came back to bite us. It could've gone either way."

Augusta State came out fearless. Siler opened the scoring with a hook shot. Dixon added a 3-pointer from the left wing. Dixon later added another 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Jaguars jumped out to a 17-6 lead six minutes in.

"There was nothing to be intimidated of," Dixon said. "Yeah, they're at a higher level than us, but they're human just like we're human. We put on our shoes the same way they do."

The near-perfect start wouldn't last. The Jaguars endured an almost seven-minute scoreless stretch, allowing the Bulldogs back in the game. Georgia took advantage of Augusta State doubling up inside as Corey Butler, Troy Brewer and Gaines all hit open 3-pointers during a 15-0 run.

The Bulldogs led 31-24 with five minutes left until halftime.

But the Jaguars got off the mat. Dixon hit a pair of 3-pointers, Smith added another and Demetrius Howard another. With four consecutive 3-pointers, Augusta State retook the lead and was ahead 41-37 at the half.