January 26, 1999
By ED SHEARER
AP Sports Writer
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Scott Padgett didn’t hesitate to fire away in overtime.
“I feel like at the end of games, I’m supposed to make those shots,”Padgett said after scoring 10 of his 23 points in overtime to help sixth-rankedKentucky outlast Georgia 91-83 Tuesday night.
Padgett’s effort included a pair of 3-pointers, a tip-in and two free throwsafter Heshimu Evans put the Wildcats ahead to say with the first of his twothree-point plays in the extra period.
The victory left Kentucky coach Tubby Smith drained, and pleased that hewant have to return to Athens to face his son again, Georgia senior G.G.
“From an emotional standpoint, it’s probably a relief,” the Kentucky coachsaid.
Tubby Smith left Georgia last year to take the Kentucky job and steered theWildcats to the national championship. Another of his sons, Saul, plays forKentucky, which has swept the three family matchups so far with one more tocome at Kentucky next month.
“Their effort against us was as good as anybody we lost to in the fourgames we lost,” the Kentucky coach said. “Tonight’s game was a great collegebasketball game. Georgia showed a lot of heart.”
And his wife, Donna, showed a lot of spirit. She sat behind the Kentuckybench, holding shakers for both the Wildcats and Bulldogs.
Wayne Turner’s free throw with 36 seconds remaining lifted Kentucky into a72-72 tie in regulation. Georgia’s Jumaine Jones, who had a career-high 34points, rimmed out a six-footer from the right side at the buzzer.
It was the fourth straight victory and eighth in nine games for Kentucky(18-4, 7-1 Southeastern Conference). The Wildcats have beaten Georgia 11consecutive times and leads the series 94-17.
Freshman D.A. Layne added 21 points for the Bulldogs (12-8, 3-5), who had aneight-game home winning streak snapped.
“If we played as hard as this every other game, this would have been ourfirst loss,” Jones said.
“We really gave a great effort,” Georgia coach Ron Jirsa said. “I thinkif we pull together the rest of the way, we can still make this a goodseason.”
Michael Bradley added 18 points for the Wildcats, while Evans had 16 andTurner 12.
Georgia led 18-11 with Jones accounting for seven points and Layne and JonNordin five each.
Kentucky fought back for a 46-42 halftime lead, overcoming a 42-39 deficitover the final 1:56 on two baskets by Bradley and a 3-pointer by Ryan Hogan.
Kentucky built its lead to 61-50 on a three-point play by Turner with 14:41to play before Layne and Jones rallied the Bulldogs, who drew even at 66 on abasket by Jones with 6:35 to play.
