Kentucky Tops Vols 84-74

Tuesday, January 16

Lexington, KY

TBA

University of Tennessee

16-2, 3-1

Kentucky

10-5, 3-0

Tennessee

Kentucky

January 16, 2001 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Coach Green's Postgame Comments

Tennessee players Charles Hathaway, left, and Isiah Victor (44) try to pry a rebound away from Kentucky's Gerald Fitch. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Keith Bogans scored 21 points and Tayshaun Prince had 16 as Kentucky beat No. 4 Tennessee 84-74 Tuesday night.

Freshmen Jason Parker and Gerald Fitch added 10 points each as the Wildcats (10-5, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) won their seventh straight game to become the only SEC school without a conference loss.

"It was the loudest I've ever heard it in (Rupp Arena)," said Tennessee's Isiah Victor, a Kentucky native who finished with only eight points.

"We tried to get the crowd out because that's the only time we could score."

Vincent Yarbrough scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half to lead the Volunteers (16-2, 3-1), who shot only 39 percent (26-of-66) and were outrebounded 44-34 by the smaller Wildcats.

Tony Harris added 13 points for the Vols but was only 4-of-14 from the field and committed six turnovers.

"Kentucky did a great job defensively with their pressure," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said. "I thought they caught us sitting back on our heels a little bit. "

Kentucky's Keith Bogans looks for room as he drives past Tennessee's Jon Higgins. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

"Kentucky was the best team on the floor tonight. But this is just one loss. It's something we deal with and then go on. When Kentucky plays like that, they can play with anyone in the country."

Kentucky led by eight points at halftime, and Tennessee cut the lead to 51-47 on a 3-pointer by Jon Higgins at the 16-minute mark. Bogans then scored nine points during a 16-2 run to increase the lead to 67-49 with 11:42 to play.

"I think early leads are sometimes misleading in college basketball," Green said. "Kentucky came out with a lot of emotion and a lot of energy and jumped out to the lead. That's important, but we know most of the time it will balance out."