Jan. 22, 2000
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Kentucky has been able to count on senior JamaalMagliore all year. On Saturday afternoon, the team also got production fromsophomore Desmond Allison.
Allison matched Magliore’s point total with a career-high 23 as the No. 18Wildcats knocked off No. 20 Vanderbilt 81-73 in overtime.
“I just broke out of a little shooting slump,” said Allison, who had shotjust 1-for-10 against Ole Miss on Wednesday. “I had to have a boost ofconfidence. I got a couple shots to fall down, and it was great. The basketlooked real big.”
“Desmond was unbelievable,” said Wildcats coach Tubby Smith, who got his200th career victory. “He’s been struggling, and you can see that their gameplan was to stay off him so he had wide-open looks at the basket.”
Magliore, who was projected as a late first-round NBA draft pick after hisjunior year, added 15 rebounds in 39 minutes.
“Jamaal’s just been a workhorse,” said Allison, who made 6-for-93-pointers including one to start the overtime. “Him coming back is paying offfor us.”
Kentucky was 12-for-27 on 3s and Vanderbilt only 5-for-27.
“I think Kentucky is the most disciplined team we’ve played,” said Vandyguard Sam Howard, who was 4-for-11 from 3-point range. “Coach (KevinStallings) had told us that they go for the shot block every time.”
The Commodores’ Dan Langhi, the SEC’s leading scorer, was held to 15 points.The Wildcats blocked eight shots to none for the Commodores. UK now has blocked108 shots on the season to 29 for the Wildcats’ opponents.
“Outside of the steal, I don’t think anything is as devastating defensivelyas the blocked shot,” Smith said. “And Jamaal is the best in the country atblocking the shot.”
Kentucky (13-5 overall, 4-1 Southeastern Conference), which defeated Vandy(12-3, 3-2) for the 15th straight time, got a key 3-pointer with 29.1 secondsleft in overtime from Tayshaun Prince. With the shot clock running down and UKup 75-53, Prince double-pumped and made the 3 from the left side.
The game was tied 65-65 with 54.9 seconds left in regulation when Saul Smithfound Magliore underneath for a dunk to put the Wildcats up 67-65. Vandy’sHoward tied it 67-67 with two free throws with 12.7 seconds left. UK’s KeithBogans missed a potential game-winning 3 at the end of regulation.
