Feb. 19, 2000
By BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – J.P. Blevins turned a rare start into a starring rolewith some timely 3-point shooting that ignited a sluggish Kentucky offense.
Blevins, thrust into the starting lineup when three players were benched fordisciplinary reasons, responded with a career-high 14 points in leading No. 19Kentucky to a 70-64 win over Georgia on Saturday afternoon.
The sophomore guard hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 50, and added anotherto put the Wildcats ahead 56-52 as Kentucky continued its dominance overGeorgia.
“I was able to help spark a run there in the second half,” said Blevins,who hit 4-of-8 3-pointers. “It felt great. I think we needed those 3s at thattime.”
Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said he wasn’t surprised by the lift fromBlevins, normally the team’s backup point guard. Blevins’ last start was inDecember.
“J.P. was the big key,” Smith said. “He’s been playing great. He’s reallygrown over the last year.”
The Wildcats also exerted their muscle underneath as Jamaal Magloire andJules Camara both registered double-doubles. Camara finished with 12 points and12 rebounds, while Magloire had 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Keith Bogans had 13 points and Saul Smith added 11.
The Wildcats struggled against Georgia’s zone, hitting just 38 percent fromthe field. Bogans hit three 3-pointers, including one from the left corner thatput Kentucky ahead for good at 53-50 with 10:22 left in the game. The shot cameamid a 13-2 run and gave the Wildcats their first lead since the first half.
D.A. Layne led Georgia with 18 points, including 5-of-13 shots from 3-pointrange. Shon Coleman added 16 points and Anthony Evans had 12.
“We came out and fought hard today,” Layne said. “We fought as hard as wecould throughout the game, but at the end we just couldn’t pull it off. Theyreally held down their territory.”
The Wildcats (19-7, 9-3 Southeastern Conference) extended their winningstreak against Georgia to 14 games. Georgia’s last win in the series was Jan.8, 1994, a 94-90 overtime victory.
Georgia coach Jim Harrick said his team played well, but the game came downto the Bulldogs missing some shots late while Kentucky was converting itschances.
“They are very good, and they hit about six 3s in a row,” he said. “Tome, that is very uncharacteristic of this team. So you have to give themcredit.”
The game started with a surprise with Smith juggling his lineup, startingCamara, Blevins and freshman Marvin Stone. Usual starters Bogans and DesmondAllison didn’t enter the game until seven minutes were left in the first half.Tayshaun Prince, the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer, didn’t play at all.
Smith said later that the three players were punished for “academicdeficiencies.”
“They needed to be disciplined,” Smith said. “There were different levelsof discipline for each player. But you’re not going to play basketball atKentucky if you don’t go to class and take care of your academics. That problemneeded to be addressed.”
Georgia (10-15, 3-9) led for most of the first half, taking advantage ofcold shooting by Kentucky. The Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the firsthalf at 27-21 on a basket by Anthony Evans with 7:34 left.
Kentucky reeled off seven straight points on a 3-pointer by Bogans and twofree throws each by Smith and Camara to take a brief 28-27 lead at the 4:31mark.
The Wildcats scored only once more in the half, on a dunk by Magloire at3:32. The Bulldogs used 3-pointers by Layne and Patrick and two free throws byColeman to lead 35-30 at the half.
Georgia hit a pair of early 3-pointers in the second half, and took itsbiggest lead at 44-35 on a 3-pointer by Layne.
