LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Derrick Byars had 23 points, including 12 on 3-pointers, and Vanderbilt beat No. 25 Kentucky 72-67 Saturday for the Commodores’ third-straight victory against the Wildcats and fourth win against a ranked opponent this season.
Prior to last year’s win in Lexington, the Commodores (13-6, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) had never beaten the nation’s all-time winningest team in 28 meetings at Rupp Arena. Now they’ve won two straight in the building to snap Kentucky’s 11-game winning streak – third longest in the country.
With under 3 minutes left, Ramel Bradley hit an off-balance jumper to give the Wildcats (15-4, 4-1) their final lead at 59-58. However, Shan Foster answered with a layup, then got a steal to feed Byars on another bucket.
Dan Cage then stretched the lead to nine on a 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining. The Commodores were 11-for-23 on 3s, one game after making a season-high 15 Wednesday in a victory over No. 10 Alabama.
Besides the Wildcats and Crimson Tide, Vanderbilt has also knocked off then-No. 16 Tennessee and then-No. 25 Georgia Tech. The Commodores’ only loss against a ranked opponent came against then-No. 8 Georgetown in the season opener.
Kentucky never trailed by double-digits, but every time the Wildcats started to make a modest run, Byars or one of the other Vanderbilt outside shooters seemed to answer with a 3.
After starting 2-0, the Wildcats didn’t lead again until the end of a sloppy first half, when Bobby Perry’s 3 gave them a 33-32 edge at halftime. However, Vanderbilt immediately answered with back-to-back 3s – one each by Byars and Ross Neltner – to start the second half.
Although the Wildcats were only 6-of-22 from 3-point range, they dominated inside with season-best performances from forwards Perry and Sheray Thomas. Perry led five double-digits scorers for Kentucky with 13 points, and Thomas had 12 – one point shy of a career best.
Kentucky had a 32-27 edge on rebounds, even though star center Randolph Morris wasn’t much of a factor until late in the first half. He didn’t get his first point until making a free throw almost 15 minutes in and finished with 11 points.
Foster had 16 points and Cage added 10 for Vanderbilt.
