Feb. 1, 2000
By TIM WHITMIRE
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Kty. (AP) – With 3-point accuracy and fast-break explosiveness,Keith Bogans turned the expected heavyweight title fight between No. 14Kentucky and No. 6 Tennessee into a romp for the Wildcats.
The freshman guard scored a career-high 25 points, including 16 of theWildcats’ first 23, as Kentucky took over first place in the SoutheasternConference’s East division with an 81-68 victory over the Volunteers on Tuesdaynight.
“It felt good,” Bogans said. “It felt like I couldn’t miss so I keptshooting. That’s what a guy dreams of, that every shot he shoots is falling.”
The victory pushed the Wildcats’ winning streak at Rupp Arena to 15 games,and avenged Kentucky’s last home loss, a 47-46 setback to the Volunteers lastseason.
Kentucky (16-5, 6-1) has won 12 of 13 games since starting the season 4-4and dropping temporarily from the national rankings.
Tennessee (18-3, 6-2) saw its six-game SEC road winning streak come to anend.
Coach Tubby Smith said Bogans’ big night was a team effort.
“All our guys are growing, maturing, they’re feeling more comfortable witheach other,” Smith said. “He was open because of the other players doingother things for him to get his shots.”
Three days after scoring 16 points in a win at Miami, Bogans was even moredominant against the Volunteers. He was a threat from everywhere on the court,going 4-of-8 from 3-point range and finishing three Kentucky fast breaks withlayups.
He was also 5-of-7 from free throw line, handed out two assists and made twosteals, while committing four turnovers.
Kentucky also got 17 points from Tayshaun Prince, 14 in the second half, anda 12-point, five-assist performance from point guard Saul Smith. Prince andSmith each had six rebounds.
In the second half, with Tennessee scrapping to cut into Kentucky’s lead,Prince hit two 3-pointers, including the one that effectively locked the gameaway, 74-63, with 3:59 remaining.
Vincent Yarbrough scored 17 points and Tony Harris added 16 for Tennessee(18-3, 6-2), while Isiah Victor had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
“Our spirit is going to be fine,” Tennessee coach Jerry Green said. “Thisis a setback, but we understand Kentucky played a fine game tonight. …
“This is about as bad as we’ve executed all season, but I don’t want totake anything away from Kentucky, they played a fine game.”
SEC statistics were turned upside-down in this contest, as the league’sworst 3-point shooting team, Kentucky, went 10-of-21 from beyond the arc, whilethe top long distance team, Tennessee, went just 10-of-27.
The Wildcats, who were outrebounded in losing twice to Tennessee lastseason, held a clear advantage on the boards, 40-33.
And the fired-up Wildcats got an assist from the raucous Rupp Arena crowd,which took up the chant of “Over-rated” with 1:20 remaining and Kentuckyahead by double digits.
Tennessee stayed in the game until the final minutes, mainly on the strengthof 3-pointers by Yarbrough, who had five, and Harris, who hit three. But 58-54,with 9:46 remaining, was as close as the Vols got over the final 10 minutes.
An anticipated matchup between Tennessee center C.J. Black and Kentuckycenter Jamaal Magloire, whom Black labeled a “dirty player” in the preseason,never panned out.
Black was in foul trouble for nearly the whole game, picking up two earlyfouls in each half before sitting down for long stretches. He finished withonly two points.
Magloire was equally ineffective, missing all three of his field goalattempts and grabbing only two rebounds in finishing with two points.
