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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky wasn't about to give up its share of the Southeastern Conference championship without a fight.
Tayshaun Prince scored 19 points and Jamaal Magloire and Keith Bogans added 14 each Saturday as the Wildcats (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) handed No. 8
Florida its worst loss of the season, 85-70, denying the Gators
an outright conference title.
|  | | Florida's Udonis Haslem attempts to keep Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince from making the pass. |
"I would call this a statement game," said Magloire, who
grabbed 13 rebounds for his SEC-leading 14th double-double of the season in his final home game. "It is letting the SEC and everyone else know we are serious. The road to the SEC always has to stop here, and now we are No. 1."
Desmond Allison and Jules Camara added 12 points each for the
Wildcats (22-8, 12-4), who finished the season a perfect 14-0 at
Rupp Arena.
Mike Miller scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half to
lead Florida (23-6, 12-4), which clinched at least a share of the
SEC championship with a victory over South Carolina on Wednesday.
Tennessee and LSU (25-4, 12-4) also claimed shares of the regular-season title Saturday. The Vols (24-5, 12-4) beat
Georgia 88-63 and the Tigers (25-4, 12-4) beat Mississippi 64-60 to create the first four-way tie championship in league history.
Kentucky's victory also avenged the Wildcats' worst loss of the
season, a 90-73 pounding at Florida on Feb. 8, and denied the
Gators the top seed in next week's SEC Tournament
"I couldn't be prouder of a group of young men than I am of
these kids," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. "We have achieved
one of the goals we set at the beginning of the year, and we
couldn't be more excited about where we are."
Kentucky rode the emotion of Senior Day to quickly jump on top
of the Gators. The Wildcats, who have lost their final home game
only one time in the past 36 seasons, used an 18-2 run midway
through the first half to take control of the game.
Kentucky's defense smothered Florida from the game's opening
moments and pressured the Gators into their worst shooting
performance of the season.
Florida, who leads the SEC in scoring (85.7 points), shooting
percentage (49.5) and 3-point shooting percentage (37.5), was
limited to 35.8 percent from the field (24-of-67) and 21.1 percent
(4-of-17) from 3-point range.
"I thought we had some very decent looks at the basket and took
some good shots," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "We just
weren't able to make the key plays.
"We're getting ready for the Southeastern Conference tournament
and the NCAA. If this game proves to be something we learn and grow
from, then it was a tremendous experience that will help us in the
postseason."
Kenyan Weaks and Brent Wright added 12 points each for Florida,
which lost for only the second time in 11 games.
Camara missed the previous meeting with an injured foot.
Kentucky shot only 42 percent from the field in that game and got
outrebounded 49-36.
This time around, the Wildcats made 52.9 percent of their shots,
including nine of 21 from 3-point range. Camara made five of seven
shots, grabbed two rebounds and blocked four shots as Kentucky won
the battle of the boards 37-36.
"He is a difference-maker," Smith said. "At Florida, the only
shot blocker we had was Jamaal Magloire, so we lost that big-time
defensive presence. Today, Jules shot the ball well and moved well
without the ball."
Kentucky led 43-24 at halftime and increased the margin to as
many as 26 early in the second half. Trailing 54-28, Miller hit his
first two field goals of the game during a 12-2 run to pull to
56-40 with 12:42 remaining.
Weaks' three-point play cut the margin to 70-60 with 3:20 to play, but Kentucky made eight of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
Kentucky Clubhouse
LSU edges Ole Miss for share of SEC crown
Vols rout Georgia, forge four-way tie atop SEC
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