Mike Mercer scored 22 points to lead the Georgia Bulldogs to a narrow 72-69 victory over the Clemson Tigers in a non-league affair.

Levi Stukes tallied 17 points for Georgia (8-3).

K.C. Rivers scored 14 points and Sam Perry added 11 points in defeat for Clemson (11-1).

Neither team was able to sustain a significant lead in the first half, and the score was knotted at 33-33 at intermission.

Mercer nailed a clutch three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining. Clemson's Shawan Robinson had a chance to tie the game and force overtime with a three-pointer in the closing seconds, but the attempt resulted in an air ball.

Georgia won the game despite 18 turnovers and a 5-of-12 effort from the foul line.

Clemson standout sophomore forward James Mays was ruled academically ineligible prior to the contest, and the team clearly missed his scoring and rebounding ability.

Copyright 2005 Courtesy of SportsNetwork.