NO. 25 KENTUCKY (15-4, 4-1 SEC) - University of Kentucky Athletics

16
Rupp Arena (23,856)
Lexington, Ky. • Jan. 10, 2007
Auburn 57
Kentucky 84
Joe Crawford had 21 points and Ramel Bradley added 18 and
a career-high 11 rebounds as Kentucky opened the home portion
of its Southeastern Conference schedule with an 84-57 victory
over Auburn.
Crawford, who tied a personal best with 23 points Saturday in
the Wildcats' conference opener at Mississippi, faded down the
stretch but ignited the Wildcats' offense early. He was perfect in
three 3-point attempts and used two old-fashioned three-point
plays - one in each half - to halt Auburn's attempts to get back into
the game.
The Wildcats stretched their winning streak to nine games and
beat the Tigers for the 22nd time in their last 23 meetings.
Against a smaller Auburn team, the ball kept bounding off the
glass to Bradley, whose previous rebounding best was seven.
Another guard, freshman Jodie Meeks, tied his career high with
nine boards.
Twice, Bradley and Crawford teamed up for game-defining
plays.
In the first half, Bradley leaped into the air to pull down a steal,
and Crawford followed Bradley's missed layup with a basket of his
own, turning it into a three-point play.
Then, with two minutes left, Bradley's no-look pass left
Crawford alone in the lane to dunk it home.
Randolph Morris had 12 points and Bobby Perry broke out of a
shooting slump with 12 to give the Wildcats four double-digit scorers.
In Kentucky's previous six games, Perry has averaged fewer
than five points. It was his highest point total since he got 17 Dec.
5 against Chattanooga.
Kelvin Lewis provided a lone spark for Auburn when he came
off the bench to connect on four 3-pointers and pick up a team-high
14 points. But it was too late for the Tigers, who remain one win shy
of matching their win total from last year.
Quantez Robertson hit the Tigers' first shot from the field, but
eight minutes and nine shots went by before Robertson picked up
the team's second basket.
Kentucky used a 10-0 run early in the half and a 9-0 one later
to build a 36-19 lead at halftime. The Wildcats never trailed, and
Auburn managed only one tie - at 2-2.
Auburn (11-6, 1-1) FG 3FG FT R F Pts A TO B S M
03 Dollard f 2-6 0-1 1-2 6 2 5 0 1 0 0 18
32 Barber f 1-3 0-0 2-4 6 4 4 0 0 0 0 24
01 Tolbert g 3-9 2-5 3-4 2 3 11 1 3 0 4 35
21 Barrett g 2-12 0-5 1-2 3 2 5 1 2 0 0 27
23 Robertson g 3-11 0-4 0-0 4 4 6 4 2 0 1 25
02 Miaway 0-2 0-2 1-2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 9
04 Hargrove 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
05 Lewis 4-8 4-7 2-2 0 1 14 0 1 0 0 12
12 Reed 1-5 1-3 0-0 4 3 3 2 6 0 2 20
24 Prowell 3-12 2-6 0-1 11 5 8 1 1 0 1 29
TEAM 2
Totals.............. 19-68 9-33 10-17 38 24 57 10 16 0 9 200
Kentucky (13-3, 2-0) FG 3FG FT R F Pts A TO B S M
13 Perry, B. f 4-7 2-4 2-2 2 1 12 3 1 1 0 26
33 Morris c 5-6 0-0 2-5 6 4 12 1 3 4 1 23
03 Bradley g 4-11 1-7 9-11 12 1 18 7 1 0 2 36
05 Jasper g 3-3 0-0 0-2 0 3 6 0 4 0 2 18
32 Crawford g 7-12 3-3 4-8 5 2 21 2 5 0 1 34
01 Porter 1-1 1-1 0-0 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 4
10 Obrzut 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 2 2 0 0 1 0 10
20 Meeks 0-3 0-2 4-4 9 0 4 2 1 0 0 25
21 Stevenson 2-2 0-0 0-1 1 2 4 0 0 1 0 12
22 Harris 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 5
23 Thomas 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 5
30 Perry, D. 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
42 Coury 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
TEAM
Totals.............. 28-50 7-18 21-33 41 16 84 19 19 7 6 200
1st 2nd Tot FG% 3FG% FT% Paint P-TO 2nd Bnch
Auburn 19 38 57 .279 .273 .588 20 20 15 26
Kentucky 36 48 84 .560 .389 .636 36 13 13 15
Officials: Tony Greene, Bert Smith, Brian Forte; Technicals: AU - Reed.
KENTUCKY BASKETBALL
17
Rupp Arena (23,856)
Lexington, Ky. • Jan. 13, 2007
Mississippi State 60
Kentucky 64
Randolph Morris blocked a game-tying shot with five seconds
left as Kentucky and Morris survived their worst shooting performances
of the season to defeat Mississippi State, 64-60.
Morris, whose layup with a minute left put the Wildcats ahead
for good, swatted away Jamont Gordon's shot to extend
Kentucky's winning streak to 10.
The Kentucky center, who was ice cold earlier in the game, finished
with 17 points - seven from the free throw line, including two
with 20 seconds remaining. The Wildcats would need them both
because Barry Stewart nailed a 3-pointer with less than 12 seconds
remaining.
Mississippi State came just short in its effort to beat Kentucky
for the first time in four years and only the second time ever at
Rupp Arena - the previous on Feb. 14, 1995.
Until the end, it appeared they might get it.
First, Jasper turned a layup into a 3-point play to tie the game
at 53 with under five minutes left. Then he grabbed his eighth
rebound on the defensive glass and fed Randolph Morris for a goahead
layup.
But Jasper also made a key mistake at the 1:40 mark, letting
the shot clock expire before he could get off a 3-point shot.
The Bulldogs got the ball back and tied the game at 57 on a tipin
by Charles Rhodes before Kentucky took the lead for good on
Morris' layup.
Joe Crawford had 14 points, including three 3-pointers, for the
Wildcats and Ramel Bradley had 11 - his 10th straight double-digit
scoring effort since moving from point guard to shooting guard.
Gordon was the Bulldogs' lone double-digit scorer with 13.
Kentucky shot a season-worst 36 percent from the field -
including several ugly misses by Morris early. But he connected on
seven of eight free throws and hit the shots from the field down the
stretch.
Despite getting no offensive rebounds in the first half, Kentucky
won the battle of the boards 37-36 over the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs used an 8-0 run to build a first half lead but
Kentucky immediately answered with an 11-0 run to pull back in
front. Kentucky led 27-26 at halftime, courtesy of two late 3-pointers
by Bradley.
MSU (10-6, 1-2) FG 3FG FT R F Pts A TO B S M
23 Rhodes f 4-14 0-0 0-0 12 1 8 0 3 2 0 32
24 Delk, Re. f 3-8 2-5 0-1 2 1 8 1 2 0 0 24
32 Varnado f 1-4 0-0 0-0 2 3 2 0 0 1 1 17
01 Delk, Ri. g 3-5 1-2 0-0 1 2 7 3 1 1 1 27
44 Gordon g 6-13 0-1 1-2 8 4 13 5 6 0 0 34
04 Stewart 3-7 3-6 0-0 3 2 9 1 0 0 0 20
11 Hansbrough 3-6 3-5 0-0 1 2 9 2 0 0 0 18
22 Slater 2-5 0-0 0-0 3 0 4 1 0 0 1 20
40 Goodridge 0-1 0-0 0-0 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 8
TEAM 2
Totals.............. 25-63 9-19 1-3 36 16 60 13 13 5 3 200
Kentucky (14-3, 3-0) FG 3FG FT R F Pts A TO B S M
13 Perry f 3-9 1-3 0-0 4 3 7 2 1 0 0 21
33 Morris c 5-12 0-0 7-8 6 0 17 1 2 3 2 27
3 Bradley g 3-10 2-6 3-4 6 1 11 3 1 0 1 37
5 Jasper g 2-4 0-1 4-5 8 2 8 3 2 1 4 28
32 Crawford g 5-12 3-6 1-2 4 1 14 2 2 0 0 33
1 Porter 1-2 1-2 0-0 1 0 3 1 1 0 0 8
10 Obrzut 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
20 Meeks 0-3 0-3 0-0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
21 Stevenson 2-3 0-0 0-0 2 2 4 0 0 1 0 11
22 Harris 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
23 Thomas 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 13
TEAM 2
Totals.............. 21-58 7-22 15-19 37 12 64 12 9 8 7 200
1st 2nd Tot FG% 3FG% FT% Paint P-TO 2nd Bnch
MSU 26 34 60 .397 .474 .333 30 10 11 22
Kentucky 27 37 64 .362 .318 .789 24 10 11 7
Officials: JB Caldwell, Rick Crawford, Mike Eades; Technicals: None.
2006-07 KENTUCKY WILDCATS
18
Colonial Center (13,809)
Columbia, S.C. • Jan. 16, 2007
Kentucky No. 25/NR 87
South Carolina 49
Joe Crawford had a feeling it could be his night.
During warmups at the Carolina Coliseum, the Kentucky junior
kept swishing outside shots.
"I loved the rims today. I couldn't miss. I hit four 3s in a row,"
Crawford said.
Once the game began, Crawford's touch continued as he
matched his career high with 23 points to help the Wildcats to their
11th consecutive victory, 87-49 over South Carolina.
Crawford was 3-for-3 from behind the arc in the first six minutes
for Kentucky. When the Gamecocks tightened up their defense,
Crawford easily found his points closer to the basket.
The result was a blowout of historic proportions -- no team had
beaten South Carolina this badly at home since Wake Forest's 64-
11 win in 1915. The Gamecocks have lost four in a row by a combined
112 points.
Crawford finished 9-of-12 from the field, while Morris added 17
points and 11 rebounds. Bradley had 15 points, all on 3s.
But it was Crawford who sparked the offense. He had 17 points
in the first half as the Wildcats opened a 37-27 lead.
Crawford had three field goals and Morris converted a layup
during a three-minute sequence to put Kentucky ahead 30-19.
When South Carolina cut the lead to 30-25 -- the closest it
would come the rest of the way -- the Wildcats finished the half on
a 7-2 run, including two free throws by Crawford.
Tre Kelley led South Carolina with 19 points.
Crawford left the game for good with about five minutes to play.
Moments earlier, the junior matched his career best of 23 points for
the fourth time.
Crawford started hot -- eerily similar to the 5-for-5 long-range
performance Florida's Lee Humphrey hung on South Carolina to
start that game -- and the Wildcats picked it up from there.
South Carolina threatened briefly near the end of the first half
when consecutive 3s by Kelley and Brandis Raley-Ross drew the
Gamecocks to 30-25. Bradley answered with a 3, Morris made a
layup and Crawford hit two free throws to give the Wildcats the 37-
27 halftime lead.
One game after Kelley questioned his teammates' desire and
skills, he was still essentially a one-man show for South Carolina.
Kelley had six of the Gamecocks' 10 first-half field goals and 16
points. No other Gamecock had more than five points in the half.
Kelley was held to a 3-pointer in the second half.
"We work hard enough to not deserve losses in that type of
fashion," Kelley said.
Kentucky (15-3, 4-0) FG 3FG FT R F Pts A TO B S M
13 Perry f 1-3 0-1 0-0 2 4 2 1 4 0 1 22
33 Morris c 8-13 0-0 1-1 11 0 17 0 1 3 0 28
03 Bradley g 5-7 5-7 0-0 5 2 15 6 1 0 2 28
05 Jasper g 1-1 0-0 1-2 5 3 3 3 2 1 0 20
32 Crawford g 9-12 3-5 2-3 2 1 23 2 0 0 0 29
01 Porter 1-5 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 11
10 Obrzut 2-2 0-0 0-0 2 4 4 0 0 0 0 7
20 Meeks 4-7 2-4 2-2 1 1 12 1 0 0 1 15
21 Stevenson 4-6 0-0 0-0 4 3 8 1 1 2 0 14
22 Harris 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 8
23 Thomas 0-0 0-0 0-0 3 0 0 4 0 1 0 15
42 Coury 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
TEAM 1
Totals.............. 35-56 10-20 7-10 38 20 87 21 12 7 6 200
USC (10-6, 0-3) FG 3FG FT R F Pts A TO B S M
21 Archie f 1-5 0-1 0-2 1 2 2 2 2 0 1 23
31 Baniulis f 3-8 2-7 0-0 6 1 8 1 2 0 0 34
33 Wallace c 1-8 0-2 4-6 3 1 6 2 2 3 2 35
01 Kelley g 7-12 2-4 3-3 1 1 19 1 2 0 0 30
05 Raley-Ross g 1-7 1-5 1-2 1 1 4 2 0 1 0 32
04 Sheldon 0-3 0-2 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 12
10 Gray 0-3 0-0 3-6 5 2 3 0 1 0 0 14
23 Day 2-9 2-6 1-3 5 2 7 0 1 0 0 17
51 Carter 0-1 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 3
TEAM 4
Totals.............. 15-56 7-27 12-22 28 11 49 8 12 4 4 200
1st 2nd Tot FG% 3FG% FT% Paint P-TO 2nd Bnch
Kentucky 37 50 87 .625 .500 .700 36 18 16 27
S. Carolina 27 22 49 .268 .259 .545 12 13 6 10
Officials: Tim Higgins, Ed Corbett, Doug Sirmons.
Technicals: None.