December 12, 1998
Postgame Quotes (Audio)
Maryland head coach Gary Williams
Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Heshimu Evans had a career-high 31 points and ScottPadgett went 4-for-4 on 3-pointers as No. 5 Kentucky handed No. 2 Maryland itsfirst loss of the season Saturday night, 103-91.
Padgett finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds for his second double-doubleof the season.
The Wildcats (9-1) took charge with a 21-8 run over the last 6:27 of thefirst half that was capped by Padgett’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the topof the key that gave Kentucky a 54-41 halftime lead and brought the Rupp Arenacrowd to its feet with a roar.
In control for most of the second half, Kentucky let its lead dwindle in thefinal minutes, and Maryland (10-1) pulled within four points on Terence Morris’3-pointer with 53 seconds left.
But Padgett, Evans and Wayne Turner hit free throws down the stretch, andthe Terps never got the ball with a shot at the lead.
Two free throws by Turner with 14 seconds remaining put Kentucky over the100-point mark for the first time in Tubby Smith’s one-plus year at the school.The 103 points by the Wildcats were the most they had scored since beatingUNC-Asheville 105-51 on Dec. 23, 1996, at Rupp Arena.
Morris led Maryland with 26 points, while Steve Francis had 25 points andObinna Ekezie had 19 points and nine rebounds.
The matchup between Kentucky and Maryland was one of the highest-profilegames of the early season, and a rare Rupp Arena game against a top,non-conference opponent for Kentucky.
Maryland came out flying, throwing up an intimidating array of alley-oopattempts and slams – most of them unsuccessful. Still, Francis’ feed to asoaring Laron Profit for an alley-oop dunk with 13:40 remaining gave the Terpsan 18-14 lead.
The Wildcats pulled back even, and the teams were tied four times and thelead changed hands 10 times in the mid-part of the first half.
Then, Padgett and Evans came to life. Padgett hit a 3 from the left wing toopen the run, and Evans nailed a 3 and hit both ends of two 1-and-1s.
Kentucky stretched the lead to as much as 17 points in the second half,before Maryland pulled close in the final minutes under a barrage ofdesperation 3s, two by Francis and one by Morris.
By TIM WHITMIRE
AP Sports Writer
=”http:>
=”http:>
