ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Kentucky’s losing streak is over.
Randolph Morris scored 14 points in his return home and the Wildcats pulled away in the second half for a 69-54 victory over Georgia on Tuesday night, avoiding their first four-game skid since 1989.
Kentucky (11-6, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) had lost three in a row, including two defeats at Rupp Arena to conference foes. The Wildcats fell behind 18-8 before the game was 7 minutes old, but they quickly rebounded against the Bulldogs (11-6, 1-3).
A 10-0 spurt wiped out the early deficit and Kentucky pulled out to a 35-32 lead at halftime. Georgia scored the first two baskets of the second half for its final lead.
The Wildcats went ahead for good on Morris’ basket with 16:11 remaining, the first of eight straight points that ended with Rajan Rondo’s thunderous dunk off a fast-break pass from Patrick Sparks.
Morris, a native of nearby Atlanta, went 7-of-10 from the field, taking advantage of his size advantage on the inside. Ramel Bradley had 13 points, while Rondo and Sparks added 12 apiece.
Georgia’s last hurrah was provided by Billy Humphrey. He swished a 3-pointer, then came up with a steal and drove the other way for a dunk of his own to pull the Bulldogs to 50-46. But the freshman guard got a little too exuberant, hanging on the rim while he pumped a fist.
Humphrey was called for a technical, and Sparks made both free throws at the other end. Kentucky kept the ball and scored again on Bradley’s drive.
After Georgia’s Rashaad Singleton threw up an airball on a hook, Kentucky took off running again. Sparks threw a pass between his legs to Bradley, who returned the ball to Sparks for a short jumper along the baseline that pushed Kentucky to a 56-46 lead.
Georgia never got closer than eight the rest of the way. The Wildcats pushed the lead to as many as 17 points in the closing minutes, looking like the Kentucky of old.
Sparks hit a 3-pointer in the corner and fell into his own bench, getting plenty of pats from his teammates. Joe Crawford dunked off a lob pass, drawing gasps from the pockets of blue in the Georgia-dominated crowd.
After losing to Vanderbilt and Alabama at home, Kentucky was positioned for its first 0-3 start in the SEC since 1975-76. But the Wildcats straightened themselves out by shooting 56 percent from the field and outrebounding the Bulldogs 41-23.
Georgia, which shot only 36 percent, was led by Mike Mercer with 15 points. Humphrey and Sundiata Gaines added 13 apiece.
