Cats fall in SEC tourney to LSU 67-58

TAMPA, Fla. -- The SEC's regular season champion LSU Tigers (26-6) knocked off the Kentucky Wildcats (20-13) in the second round of the SEC tournament. The loss virtually assures Kentucky of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in eighteen seasons.

Marcus Thornton had game high scoring honors with 21. Bo Spencer and Tasmin Mitchell chipped in with 14 each. Patrick Patterson led Kentucky with 15 points and ten rebounds, and Ramon Harris added 11. The SEC's leading scorer, Jodie Meeks, was held to eight points. It marks the only time this season that Meeks failed to score in double digits.

LSU will advance to face the winner of South Carolina vs Miss. State in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament Saturday afternoon. Kentucky will likely next be playing in the N.I.T. Tuesday night. Due to scheduling conflicts, the game will not be held in Rupp Arena, but will instead be played in Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum.

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Read more about the game, interviews and quotes from Kentucky players and coaches from the original WildcatChat, KSR's Premium Community Message Board. KSR's Larry Vaught is live at the UK locker rooms with all developing stories as they occur.