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Tennessee at Kentucky

No. 9 Kentucky dials long distance to blow out Vols
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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky's 3-point shooting meant another long night on the road for Tennessee.

Kelenna Azubuike scored 17 points and the ninth-ranked Wildcats went 11-of-19 from 3-point range in a 92-60 victory on Wednesday night.

Kentucky (20-4, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) clinched its 14th consecutive 20-win season and completed a regular-season sweep of the Volunteers (13-11, 5-8), who have lost nine of their past 12 games.

Antwain Barbour scored 16 points and Cliff Hawkins added 15 points and seven assists for Kentucky, which is one game behind No. 7 Mississippi State in the overall SEC standings.

Kentucky's win, combined with South Carolina's loss at Florida on Wednesday, clinched at least a share of the SEC East division title for the Wildcats, who have won three straight games since a loss to Georgia.

"We've been getting better," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. "I've seen it in practice. They're really starting to come together. We hadn't been bad all year, but we're getting better."

For only the second time this season, all five Kentucky starters scored in double figures. The Wildcats posted their largest winning margin of the season and their highest point total since a 101-72 win over Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 23.

Kentucky also matched its highest 3-point output of the season. The Wildcats made 11 3-pointers against Eastern Kentucky. Kentucky entered the game 10th in the SEC in made 3-pointers per game at 5.4. Azubuike and Barbour each went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

"That's got to be the best we've shot all year," Smith said.

Smith wasn't too far off, as Kentucky shot 58.9 percent from the field, its third-best outing of the season.

"We had great balance," Smith said. "We're pretty good because we're solid in most other areas. When we make shots early on, it puts a lot of pressure on the other team."

Tennessee fell to 1-8 in road games this season. All eight losses have been by double figures.

Scooter McFadgon, who scored 33 points in the Volunteers' first game this season against Kentucky, led Tennessee with 18 points and Stanley Asumnu added 13.

"It bothers me that we went back to where we were early in the conference season," Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson said.

"I told our guys (during the game) that I wanted five guys who were going to compete. Our offense gave (Kentucky) way too many opportunities to score."

Tennessee scored the first five points before Kentucky seized control with a 17-2 run, during which Barbour scored nine points. The Wildcats led by as many as 18 points before settling for a 44-29 halftime lead.

Tennessee came no closer than 13 points in the second half. Kentucky outrebounded the taller Volunteers 40-27.

Chuck Hayes scored 14 points and center Erik Daniels added 12 points and six assists for Kentucky, which recorded assists on 19 of its 33 field goals.

Kentucky went 7-of-11 from 3-point range in the first half and was 11-for-16 before missing its last three attempts. The Wildcats entered the game shooting 32.8 percent from 3-point range this season.

"Our team was running the floor, and our transition game was really working," Hawkins said.

Gerald Fitch, Kentucky's leading scorer, didn't start for the sixth straight game, three of which he missed because of injury. Fitch played only 35 seconds Wednesday, as he was suffering from food poisoning. He picked up two quick fouls after entering the game in the first half and didn't return.


AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
 
 
Scoreboard
Tennessee293160
Kentucky #9 «444892
TN:S. McFadgon 18 Pts
TN:B. Crump 6 Reb
TN:C. Watson 6 Ast
KY:K. Azubuike 17 Pts
KY:B. Perry 7 Reb
KY:C. Hawkins 7 Ast
 

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PLAYERS OF THE GAME
KentuckyTennessee
KY
K. Azubuike
TN
S. McFadgon
PtsRebsAstPtsRebsAst
17601840
Tennessee Volunteers
S. McFadgon, G325-144-440218
B. Crump, F293-60-16046
C. Watson, G293-103-426211
S. Asumnu, G284-75-1212313
M. Wingate, C262-30-14024
J. Hendrix, F241-60-03032
D. Bradshaw, G222-60-04334
J. Winchester, G71-30-01022
B. Herndon, C20-00-00000
J. Albrecht, F10-00-00000
J. Howell, GDid Not Play
L. Wright, GDid Not Play
P. Gash, GDid Not Play
F. Smithwick, FDid Not Play
Totals 21-5512-2225112160
 38.2%54.5% 
Kentucky Wildcats
A. Barbour, G296-91-332216
E. Daniels, F275-101-246312
C. Hawkins, G275-84-657215
C. Hayes, F275-64-563314
K. Azubuike, G257-100-160317
B. Perry, F131-41-27024
B. Stockton, G111-10-01103
M. Heissenbuttel, G101-20-00002
L. Obrzut, C90-12-21012
J. Carrier, G80-00-04010
R. Moss, G51-11-20004
S. Alleyne, C41-20-01002
B. Cote, F20-01-30001
S. Thomas, F10-00-00000
G. Fitch, G10-00-00020
P. LeMaster, GDid Not Play
Totals 33-5415-2638191992
 61.1%57.7% 
Southeastern
TeamConf. W-LTot. W-L
Kentucky16-038-2
Florida10-626-11
Vanderbilt10-625-11
Tennessee10-619-15
Alabama9-721-12
Mississippi St.8-821-12
Mississippi8-820-14
LSU7-918-15
Arkansas6-1018-14
Auburn5-1115-16
Georgia5-1115-17
South Carolina2-1410-21
 
Other games
St Joe's 83 Final
UMass 58
Illinois 78 Final
Iowa 59
Florida St 87 Final
Wake 90
NCST 79 Final
GATECH 69
DEPAUL 60 Final
Louisville 58
Penn St 45 Final
Wisc 68
LSU 58 Final
Miss St 84
STLOU 52 Final
Cincinnati 77