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Cats Clinch Eastern Division TitleGerald Fitch scored 23 points as the Wildcats defeated LSU 70-64 to clinch the SEC Eastern Division. Fitch connected on 5 three-pointers, as he came off the bench for the 4th straight game. Bringing Gerald off the bench appears to be a winning formula for Coach Tubby Smith, as the Cats have won all four. Erik Daniels, whose 14.8 points per game is second only to Fitch's 15.1, added 14 points on 7-11 shooting. Another Cat who came up big, despite scoring only 7 points, was Chuck Hayes, who led Kentucky with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Freshamn Sheray Thomas continues to improve, as he contributed with 4 points and 4 rebounds in only 6 minutes. The game was a struggle the entire way, as the Cats had to scratch their way to victory over the feisty Tigers, who were without their best player, Jaime Lloreda, out with a foot injury. The Tigers made 5 three-pointers in the first half to keep it close, trailing just 33-29 at the break. In the second half, they focused more inside, and were rewarded with free throws. They took full advantage, making 15 of 15 in the half, and a perfect 17-17 for the game. It wasn't enough, however, to offset the hot-shooting Fitch and a renewed second-half defensive effort by the Cats: LSU shot 50% in the first, and just 37.5% in the second.
The Cats managed to out-rebound the Tigers, though just slightly, 30-27, despite LSU being without their leading rebounder, Lloreda. Kentucky did manage to take care of the ball, as they committed just 10 turnovers in the game.
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