DULUTH, Ga. --- Trey Thompkins scored 21 points, including four decisive free throws in the final 22 seconds, as Georgia defeated Illinois 70-67 in an intersectional basketball game here Saturday night.

The Bulldogs (5-4) led nearly the entire contest before a 3-point play by Illinois’ Demetri McCamey pushed the Illini (8-3)ahead 67-66 with 35 seconds left.  On the ensuing possession, Thompkins was fouled and his two foul shots with 22 ticks remaining got the Bulldogs the lead back for good.

McCamey missed a short, running jumper on his team’s next try, Thompkins rebounded and McCamey fouled him with just six seconds left.  Again, the Georgia sophomore, who had missed two practices this week after having wisdom teeth extracted, sealed the victory with two more foul shots.

“This was a terrific win for our team and our program.” said Georgia head coach Mark Fox. “We beat a team that I have a lot of respect for. Bruce (Weber) does a great job with his team and when you beat a good team, it makes you feel good and we beat a very good team and we had to play extremely well to do that. It was a great game and I’m really proud for our kids because they have worked hard the past 10 days.”

Although Georgia won the game, it was a closely-fought struggle. The margin was never greater than five points in the first half where the Bulldogs led 16-11 with 13:27 on the clock. Illinois fought back and the teams went to the locker room tied at 32.

Thompkins led the Bulldogs with 21 points and seven rebounds while Travis Leslie put up seventeen and three rebounds. Albert Jackson led the Bulldogs in rebounds with eight.

“We rebounded the ball very well tonight,” Fox said. “We put a lot of time in that the last ten days. Rebounding drills are not fun but I think they certainly helped us do a better job tonight.”

McCamey led Illinois with 21 points and three rebounds while Mike Davis had 12 and six rebounds. Mike Tisdale fouled out of the game with 22 seconds remaining, leaving with ten points and two rebounds.

The Bulldogs return to Athens on Tuesday, December 23 to take on Florida Atlantic at 7:00 p.m.