Nov. 2, 2002
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Keith Bogans scored a game-high 30 points while Kelenna Azubuike added 26 and Chuck Hayes posted a double-double to lead the Blue to a 98-79 win over the White in Kentucky’s annual Blue-White game before 3,548 fans at Memorial Coliseum Saturday night. UK Blue also won the battle of the boards, 38-31, paced by Hayes’ 11 rebounds.
“Early on, the guys looked nervous, especially some of the new guys,” Coach Tubby Smith said. “But after they felt each other out everyone started to play well. I was pleased with almost everything we did out there. We didn’t shoot quite as well as we have in practice, but once we get our rotation together, and our starters named, we’ll be OK.”
Bogans led the Blue to a 39-26 halftime edge as the senior swingman connected on 5-of-12 from the floor with two field goals coming from behind the arc. Bernard Cote showed the ability to muscle inside and a soft shooter’s touch as the freshman from St. Lambert, Quebec, grabbed five rebounds and 11 first-half points. Marquis Estill’s eight points led the White whichshot 10-for-25 as a team the first 20 minutes.
The Blue didn’t connect on a field goal until Bogans dropped a 14-foot jumper with 15:47 to play in the first half. Estill returned the favor in transition with a crushing two-handed slam.
Azubuike increased Blue’s lead with a three-pointer, but Brandon Stockton wowed the Memorial Coliseum crowd on the ensuing play with a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Erik Daniels who finished with a driving layup along the baseline. Bogans answered on the other end with his first three-pointer of the night to give the Blue a six-point advantage at 15-9.
Cote displayed his long-range talent by nailing back-to-back three pointers to increase the Blue team’s lead to 21-11 with nine minutes before the intermission. Antwain Barber drove the lane uncontested to pull White within nine, 25-16, but Hayes dropped two free throws to bring Blue’s lead back to 11 at 4:28.
“The Blue team with Gerald (Fitch) and Keith (Bogans) in the back ran a smoother offense,” Smith said. “Those guys were here last year so they know most of what’s going on in the offense. They made it easier for guys like Kelenna (Azubuike) to adjust to things and look good.”
In the second period, Bogans and Cote continued to display their shooting prowess from three-point range as both drained baskets from behind the arc to up Blue’s led to 69-54 with 12 minutes to play. UK Blue took a 15-point advantage when Azubuike sank a five-footer in the paint, but Barbour brought the crowd to it’s feet when Brandon Stockton tossed an ally-oop pass that the Elizabethtown, Ky., native slammed home for two of his 15 points.
Hayes had the hot hand late in the second half when he drilled back-to-back three pointers to send Blue’s lead back to a commanding 16 points, 88-72, with three minutes to play. Bogans put the finishing touches on the Blue victory when he leaped for an Azubuike pass and crushed the ball through the net with 30 seconds on the clock. Cliff Hawkins took Bogans’ lead and responded with a two-handed jam for two of his 13 points.
“I tried not to force shots this game,” Bogans said. “I just took them as they came. Hopefully all the hard work I put into my shooting in the offseason will pay off.”
For the game, White shot 31-for-61 (51.7 percent) from the floor and 13-for-20 (65.0 percent) from the line. Blue finished the contest 37-for-73 (50.7 percent) and 12-for-17 (70.6 percent) from the line.
The Wildcats will kick off the 2002-03 season when they play host to Athletes in Action in an exhibition game at Rupp Arena on Monday, Nov. 11. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
– UK –
