ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Fox might be shedding some pounds after losing a bet with Chris Barnes in the Bulldogs' 68-59 win against Arkansas State on Saturday.

Fox said he would run the stadium steps if Barnes — known for his poor free throw shooting — ever made two free throws in a row. Well, the 6-foot-8 senior forward made two straight free throws with 8:52 left in the second half.

The coach didn't specify whether he'll run the steps at Georgia's 92,000 seat Sanford Stadium or Stegeman Coliseum, which holds more than 10,500.

"We have not talked about it this year. Maybe he forgot," said Fox, who then jokingly asked for a favor from a group of reporters. "Don't you guys remind him."

But Barnes, who scored a season-high 12 points, said he hadn't forgotten at all. Barnes has missed 91 free throws and made 87 during his career.

Fox said Barnes stepped up his game.

"Barnes was terrific today," Fox said. "He played like a senior. He was a big key for us. That was why I started him in the second half."

Trey Thompkins scored 15 points for the Bulldogs (7-2). Travis Leslie added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Donald Boone scored 14 for Arkansas State (3-7), and Rashad Allison scored 12.

The Red Wolves closed the margin to 25-24 with 7:54 remaining in the first half on a basket by Malcoln Kirkland, but Arkansas State would never pull ahead. Georgia answered with an 11-1 run en route to a 36-27 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs' biggest lead of the game came with 11:55 to go on a layup by Leslie to make it 55-34. The Wolves cut into the lead late and made it as close as 66-59 with 1:34 to play on a 3-pointer by Boone.

"We established a big lead, but we have not established the ability to play well with a big lead," Fox said. "We can't afford to lose concentration. As we get ahead we need to pay attention to details.

"As we become a better team, we are going to be ahead more often than behind. At least, I hope we will be in that position."

Georgia was very efficient in the first eight minutes of the game, scoring on its first seven possessions and on 12 of its first 14 to take a 23-15 lead.

The Bulldogs grew the lead quickly in the second half, going up 51-31 on a 3-pointer by Sherrard Brantley with 15:41 remaining.

Fox credited Arkansas State for rallying. Red Wolves Coach John Brady agreed.

"I'm upset with how we played the first six or eight minutes of the second half," Brady said. "Towards the end of the game, we started making some shots and the crowd got quiet with three minutes left. Who knows what would have happened if we had started the way that we finished?"

Thompkins said that Georgia needs to avoid complacency.

"First of all, it is a blessing to have so many players who are dynamic, who can score," he said. "But we become complacent. Sometimes we get satisfied. We need to address that."

"We have just got to learn how to finish teams out," said Barnes.