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Cats win "Basketbowl" 79-74
For the first time since the '92-'93 season, the Kentucky Wildcats have started the season 5-0. One week removed from a dismal 27% shooting performance, the Kentucky Wildcats found their collective stroke, shooting 64% from the field. The Cats scored 49 points in the first half, just three fewer than they scored the entire game against UCLA. Kentucky led by as many as 15 points in the first half, and never trailed the entire game. Michigan State closed out the half strong, narrowing the gap to six points. In the second half, the Wildcats managed to keep their lead in the 6-8 point range, until four consecutive Paul Davis free throws pulled the Spartans to within one with eight minutes remaining. Davis spent much of the game at the charity stripe, and took advantage, connecting on all 14 free throw attempts.
It looked like the Cats were in trouble. Their once-swollen lead was now gone. Four of the starters, with the exception of Kelenna Azubuike, had played the entire game and were starting to look sluggish and sloppy. Erik Daniels had just picked up his fourth personal foul and was replaced by the inexperienced Freshman Lukasz Obrzut. Then Gerald Fitch hit a couple free throws, followed by a 3-pointer, and the lead was back up to six. During the remaining six minutes of action, the two teams exchanged baskets and free throws, and Fitch hit three free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.
The game took place in front of 78,129 fans, the biggest crowd ever to watch a basketball game.
A look at some of the individual performances:
- Gerald Fitch: The star of the game, Gerald hit 7 of 11 shots from the field, 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and 7 of 9 from the free throw line, finishing with 25 points. It was the third time this season that Gerald has scored more than 20.
- Cliff Hawkins: Hawkins scored 13 and dished out 4 assists. He was somewhat careless with the basketball, committing 5 turnovers. He overcame his ball-handling difficulties by hitting some clutch jumpers and getting 4 steals.
- Chuck Hayes: As usual Chuck was a monster on the boards, leading the team yet again with 12 rebounds. As was the case for Fitch and Hawkins, Hayes recovered from an awful shooting performance vs. UCLA by hitting 7 of 9 shots and scoring 17 points. Despite being an undersized power forward at 6'6", Chuck managed two blocks to go along with 2 steals, 4 assists, and zero turnovers. Just another day at the office.
- Erik Daniels: Despite getting into late foul trouble, Erik did a terrific job, along with Hayes, of providing the Cats with substantial scoring down low, finishing with 16 points on 8 of 12 shooting.
- Antwain Barbour: Although he still hasn't found his shooting stroke, Barbour continued to provide valuable minutes off the bench. Late in the first half, Antwain scored on two straight trips, slashing beautifully to the basket and, most importantly, finishing, for his only four points of the game.
- Lukasz Obrzut: The Freshman, though outmatched in many ways agains Paul Davis, actually held his own, as he saw his first significant action as a Wildcat. He contributed four points and a blocked shot as he played a valuable 13 minutes while Daniels was saddled with foul trouble.
Box Score
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