Feb. 26, 2000
By STEVE BAILEY
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – All season long, No. 18 Kentucky has struggled to putthe ball in the basket while its rebounding and defense have been just goodenough to earn victories in close games.
That trend continued Saturday as Kentucky shot a season-low 35.2 percent,including a dismal 16 percent from 3-point range, but dominated the boards tohold off Arkansas 60-55.
Freshman Keith Bogans scored 22 points and Jamaal Magloire added 15 pointsand 12 rebounds for the Wildcats (20-8, 10-4 Southeastern Conference), who wonat least 20 games for the 10th consecutive season.
“I hit a couple of shots early in the game and got my confidence up,”Bogans said. “We’ve been shooting well in practice. In games, it’s just notbeen there for us as a team.”
Despite its offensive woes, Kentucky outrebounded Arkansas 45-28, includinga 21-6 margin at the offensive end. The Wildcats also held the Razorbacks(14-13, 6-8) to 40 percent shooting from the field.
“We played great defense,” said Tayshaun Prince, who scored only eightpoints but grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. “Our shots aren’t falling, butour defensive intensity allowed us to get the win.”
Bogans hit six of 12 shots and Magloire four of nine while the rest of theteam made a combined nine of 33. As a team, Kentucky made only four of 25 from3-point range.
The Razorbacks didn’t fare much better, hitting nine of 23 from 3-pointrange but only 12-of-30 inside the arc.
“To dominate the boards like we did was a big key, but the biggest thing isthat we got good balance from Jamaal, Tayshaun and Keith,” Kentucky coachTubby Smith said. “Our shooting has been up and down all year long. Until westart shooting consistently well, we’re going to have to answer questions aboutit.
“We play good defense and play unselfishly, all the things it takes to be achampionship team. We just need to get shots to fall.”
Freshman Blake Eddins led the Razorbacks with 12 points. Joe Johnson, theSEC’s top freshman scorer, was held to 10 points – six below his season average- on 4-of-11 shooting.
“I’m real proud of our kids,” said Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson, whohas only one senior and one junior on his roster. “We executed and played gooddefense. The only place we were very weak was in the board department.”
The Razorbacks’ 3-point shooting kept them from being blown out early.Arkansas made six of 12 from 3-point range in the first half while Bogans hithis first two and then the Wildcats made only one of their next 10.
Kentucky led 18-9 midway through the first half. Teddy Gipson and Carl Bakereach hit 3-pointers during a 9-0 Arkansas run to tie the game at 18 with 5:30to play in the half.
Chris Walker’s 3-pointer gave the Razorbacks their first lead, 25-23 with1:15 to play. Then J.P. Blevins hit a 3 with 33 seconds remaining gave theWildcats a 28-27 halftime lead.
“We had some good shots,” Smith said. “I thought Jules (Camara) had somegreat looks and Saul (Smith) had some wide-open looks. Thankfully for us, J.P.hit some big shots for us.”
The Razorbacks took their largest lead, 42-38, on Gipson’s three-point playwith 14:33 remaining. The lead bounced back and forth until Bogans’ steal anddunk gave the Wildcats a 52-50 lead with 5:25 to play.
Leading 53-51, Saul Smith’s only basket put Kentucky up for good with 3:18remaining. Magloire, who had his third consecutive double-double, made fourfree throws in the final 19 seconds to seal the game.
“Magloire hitting those four free throws … that is what a senior has todo,” Richardson said.
Magloire made seven of 10 free throws and Bogans eight of 12 as the Wildcatsshot 32 foul shots to the Razorbacks’ seven.
“When a team shoots 32 free throws and hits 18 and we shoot seven and twoof those are technicals, there is the game right there,” Richardson said. “Wecan’t beat anybody on the road when that happens.”
