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Thompkins helps Georgia take down Kentucky

Jan 9, 2011 - 2:09 AM Athens, GA (Sports Network) - Trey Thompkins posted 25 points and seven rebounds, and Georgia opened SEC play with a bang, upending No. 10 Kentucky, 77-70, at Stegeman Coliseum.

Gerald Robinson netted 17 points and Travis Leslie scored 15 to go with eight rebounds for the Bulldogs (12-2, 1-0 SEC), who have rattled off nine straight wins for the first time since the 1982-83 season.

Terrence Jones paced the Wildcats with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but Kentucky (12-3, 0-1) shot just 38 percent from the field to fall for the first time in eight games.

Georgia had a week's rest to prepare for the Wildcats, and the fresh legs showed down the stretch.

Doron Lamb went 1-for-2 from the foul line to pull Kentucky within 61-59 with 5:04 to play, but the was as close as the visitors got.

After three Georgia free throws, Thompkins made a deep jumper and added one from the stripe for an eight-point lead with under 2 1/2 minutes to play.

Jones drained a healthy three-pointer to end Kentucky's scoreless run, but the Bulldogs sealed the win at the foul line, making all 10 of their attempts over the last two minutes.

"That's what college basketball is all about, two good teams really battling it out," Georgia head coach Mark Fox said. "It was a great atmosphere...We played well. I'm proud of our team."

Thompson scored six points on Georgia's 13-4 run to end the first half, yielding a 41-30 cushion for the hosts.

The Wildcats battled back and took a 56-55 lead on Jones' three-point play at the midway point, and it stayed close until Georgia's final push.

Game Notes

Kentucky still holds a healthy 112-25 lead in the all-time series...Lamb finished with 18 points for the Wildcats, who went 6-of-20 from three-point range...Dustin Ware had 10 points for the Bulldogs...Georgia had a decided advantage at the foul line, making 30-of-34 attempts. Kentucky went to the line 16 times and made 10.