Jan. 29, 2000
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) – Kentucky’s break from Southeastern Conference play was anythingbut leisurely.
Keith Bogans scored 16 points and Desmond Allison added 15 as 16th-rankedKentucky (15-5) beat Miami 60-57 Saturday for its fifth consecutive victory and11th in 12 games.
“This was a crucial win for us because it’s so important for us to keep ourmomentum going back into SEC play,” said Kentucky center Jamaal Magloire, whohad 11 points and seven rebounds.
Kentucky led much of the game with the help of 20 offensive rebounds, butthe Hurricanes used a 12-2 run late in the second half to go ahead 57-56 with42 seconds remaining.
Tayshaun Prince hit a running jumper in the lane, regaining the lead for theWildcats.
Miami (12-8) had a chance to take the lead with 30 seconds to play, butVernon Jennings’ shot from under the basket hit the bottom of the rim. SaulSmith grabbed the loose ball and called timeout as he fell out of bounds tosave possession for Kentucky.
“I’m not sure we could have gotten a better shot than Vernon hadpoint-blank in the lane,” Miami coach Leonard Hamilton said. “Unfortunatelywe just didn’t make plays in the final seconds and their kids did.”
The Hurricanes fouled Magloire on the ensuing possession, and he made twofree throws with 3.4 seconds left. Jennings’ 3-pointer at the buzzer didn’teven reach the rim.
Johnny Hemsley led the Hurricanes with 18 points but shot only 5-for-15.Mario Bland added 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Wildcats had several chances to put the game out of reach before theclosing minutes. They closed the first half on a 15-4 run and led 35-25 athalftime.
The Hurricanes went on a 14-3 spurt in the opening minutes of the secondhalf and regained the lead 39-38.
Kentucky then opened a nine-point lead – its biggest of the second half -when Smith made a 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired.
Smith, saddled with foul trouble much of the game, scored four points.
“This type of game can give you confidence or it can take your heart,”said Wildcats coach Tubby Smith, whose club plays No. 11 Tennessee and No. 10Florida the next two weeks.
“Coming on the road and stepping out of the SEC at this time is a toughthing to do,” Smith added. “It was a war and if we had lost the game, then itwould have been real tough mentally for us.”
Miami shot 39 percent and committed only nine turnovers against Kentucky’spressure defense, but the Hurricanes struggled to keep the Wildcats off theoffensive boards.
Kentucky had as many offensive rebounds (15) as Miami had rebounds in thefirst half. The Wildcats outrebounded Miami 40-31 for the game.
“They have good athletes and it became a jumping contest and they won toomany of those,” Hamilton said.
