Cats beat Mocs behind hot 3-point shooting

For 33 minutes, it was a really fun game to watch if you were a Kentucky fan. The Wildcats held the Mocs to just 30% shooting in the first half and opened the second period with an 11-0 run on their way to opening a 63-36. Kentucky let the Mocs back into the game before settling the matter by the final of 79-63.

For 33 minutes, it was a really fun game to watch if you were a Kentucky fan. The Kentucky Wildcats, coming off a disappointing loss to North Carolina, sought to make a statement in Louisville tonight against UT-Chattanooga. And they did, of sorts. The Wildcats held the Mocs to just 30% shooting in the first half, opening a 45-30 lead by the break. The Cats opened the second period with an 11-0 run on their way to opening a 63-36 lead and the route was on. Instead of closing the door, however, Kentucky let the Mocs back into the game before settling the matter by the final of 79-63.

The Wildcats, who managed just three 3-point baskets in 15 attempts against North Carolina, were sizzling from the outside tonight. Kentucky finished 13-26 from beyond the arc.

Junior center Randolph Morris continued his dominating play from Saturday, scoring at will down low, despite double team defensive efforts. Ramel Bradley, struggling much of the season, had his best game of the year by far. Senior Bobby Perry was canning shots from the outside, hitting the boards and scoring on put backs. Junior guard Joe Crawford overwhelmed smaller Mocs defenders and coach Tubby Smith fervently implored his team to “run, run, run.”

Freshman Derrick Jasper made his first start for Kentucky, playing solid minutes for the Cats despite a lack of point production. Bradley led UK with 23 points on 8-12 shooting (6-9 behind the arc). Crawford added 19, Perry and Morris 17 points each.

Near the 7-minute mark, however, the Mocs went on a 26-8 run to close the gap to 71-62 behind the hot shooting of Keddric Mays, who led all scorers for the night.

After a timeout, Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley hit back to back three point shots to give the Cats a little more cushion as time began to wind down.

Kentucky will hope their momentum will carry over into their next game against Indiana in Rupp Arena on Saturday. The Cats will be seeking revenge for the 79-53 thumping that the Hoosiers put on Kentucky last year. Despite the beating last season, the Wildcats have won 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Hoosiers.