Dec. 7, 1999
By TIM WHITMIRE
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Kty. – Desmond Allison scored 15 points as No. 23 Kentuckybroke its longest losing streak in nearly a decade with a 86-41 win Tuesdaynight over North Carolina-Asheville .
After successive losses to Arizona, Dayton and Indiana, a Rupp Arena datewith the winless Bulldogs (0-8) was precisely what Kentucky (4-3) needed to getback on track.
The win stopped the Wildcats’ worst slide since they dropped five straightin December and January of 1989-90, when Rick Pitino was in his first season ascoach and the team was on NCAA probation.
The Wildcats, anemic offensively for much of the season, shot 45.6 percentfrom the field and scored a season-high 84 points.
The defense, a source of concern for coach Tubby Smith after Indiana shot54.7 percent from the floor in Saturday’s 83-75 loss, tightened, limiting theBulldogs to just 36.1 percent shooting (15 of 44) and forcing 29 turnoverswhich led to 37 Kentucky points.
One day after Smith said he was thinking about benching Allison, following ascoreless performance against Indiana, he responded with his best performanceof the season.
The sophomore shooting guard started and made all three 3-pointers he took,including two in the first four minutes of the game, giving Kentucky an early10-2 lead.
Freshman Marvin Stone had his first career double-double, scoring 12 pointsand grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds. Jamaal Magloire had 14 points, KeithBogans scored 12 and Jules Camara had 11.
John Risinger led Asheville with 11 points, while Adam Earnhardt grabbedseven rebounds.
After jumping ahead, Kentucky added an 11-0 run and closed the half with a14-0 surge to take a 41-16 lead at the break. The second half was more of thesame, including another 14-0 run.
Upcoming games at Maryland on Saturday, vs. in-state blood rival Louisvilleon Dec. 18 and vs. No. 4 Michigan State on Dec. 23 will give a betterindication whether Kentucky has begun to address the shooting and defensiveproblems exposed by Arizona, Dayton and Indiana.
Kentucky already has a win over Maryland this season, 61-58 at MadisonSquare Garden on Nov. 24, in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT.
For Asheville, the loss extended the worst start in school history. TheBulldogs have now taken road losses at Connecticut, Tennessee, Missouri andSaint Louis, in addition to Kentucky, and must play at North Carolina State onSaturday.
