4SHOT Sports

SEC Tourney - Men's 06
Kentucky vs. Ole Miss (Day 1)
By Larry Williams - 4SHOT Sports
Mar 9, 2006, 02:35 EST

2006 SEC Tournament

Day 1 - Game 2

Kentucky vs. Ole Miss
Morris steps up as Kentucky advances
Gaylord Entertainment Center - Nashville, TN

Kentucky took a quick lead on a three-point play by Joe Crawford but Ole Miss stormed back taking a 7-3 lead on a lay-up by Dwayne Curtis.

The “Rebels” did a nice job early on of beating the “Wildcats” up and down the court as the lead reached 9 points, 24-15 with 8:05 left in the half. Kentucky led by Rajon Rondo (who I think is going to be an even better NBA player) and Randolph Morris mounted a charge towards the end of the half. A lay-up by sharp-shooter Patrick Sparks helped the “Wildcats” cut the lead to 26-21 with 3:08 on the clock.

A three-pointer by the “Rebels” Brandon Patterson pushed the lead up to 29-21 but just like they did earlier when they were down the “Wildcats” got a big tip-in from Bobby Perry and a long bomb from Sparks to cut the lead to 29-26 at the half.

The “Wildcats” hit the floor in the 2^nd half and really started getting after the “Rebels”, especially Morris who started banging the glass and clogging up the middle. Sparks who ended the 1^st half with a nice run scored off of a steal to pull the Kentucky to within one, 31-30. A few moments later Crawford scored when Morris stole the ball and just like that the “Wildcats” led 32-31.

Kentucky’s other McDonald’s All-American guard (Rondo was a McDonald’s All-American…but who isn’t on the “Wildcats”) reserve Ramel Bradley entered the game fired up drilling a three-pointer to give Kentucky a 40-37 lead.

The “Rebels” Londrick Nolen is a baller, although a little to unselfish, I wish he would have taken over a little more on the offensive end of the floor; his three-pointer with 8:03 to play cut the lead to 44-41.

The teams continued to go back and forth before the “Wildcats” started to surge ahead. Morris completed a three-point play and Bradley drilled his 2^nd three-pointer during the surege. Morris then scored on a rebound dunk to give Kentucky their largest lead of the game 59-48 with 3:30 to play.

Ole Miss never recovered from the Kentucky run and down the stretch Joe Crawford hit 6 of 6 free-throws as the “Wildcats” went on to a 71-57 win. The win advances the “Wildcats” into the quarter-finals against Alabama on Friday.

Scoring Recap

Kentucky:

Randolph Morris scored a game high 17 points to lead 4 “Wildcats” in double-figures. Patrick Sparks finished with 14, Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley each added 11 points. Rajon Rondo and Bobby Perry chipped in with 7 points apiece. Rondo also dished out 7 assists.

Ole Miss:

Jeremey Parnell scored 14 points to pace the “Rebels”. Dwayne Curtis finished with 13 and Bam Doyne added 11 points. Londrick Nolen chipped in with 8 points.