First-place Kentucky basketball stays hot, outlasts Florida
By SDS Staff
Published:
Only one of the teams was ranked, but Kentucky-Florida had all the feelings of a big game. A season-high crowd of over 20,000, including John Wall, packed Rupp Arena. The lively atmosphere helped boost the Wildcats to a 65-59 victory over the Gators.
Season-high 20,489 in @Rupp_Arena tonight.
Not a single one of them was sitting when @JohnWall took center stage. #LaFamilia pic.twitter.com/AVyVfuuAOU
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 23, 2020
Today’s “Y” at Rupp Arena… JOHN WALL pic.twitter.com/XTu9ncdlqz
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) February 23, 2020
In the first half, Mike White’s squad was able to hang with John Calipari’s top-10 Wildcats. A buzzer-beating three-pointer from UF’s Ques Glover made it 31-31 at the break.
Florida went cold at the wrong time, going almost seven minutes (6:51) without a field goal from the floor. Despite the lack of scoring, the Wildcats were unable to put the Gators away. When UF’s Tre Mann hit a 3-pointer to end the scoring drought, UK’s lead was just 52-49 at the 6:54 mark.
Mann’s score seemed to serve as a wake-up call for Calipari’s Cats. Right after the lead was cut to just three points, UK worked to extend back to 56-49 with just over four minutes left. Kentucky managed to hold onto the lead for the rest of the game as Florida fought to the finish, cutting it to 61-59 with 15.9 seconds left. The Wildcats were strong at the free-throw line and came away with the 65-59 win.
Immanuel Quickley led the way with 26 points, his sixth time with 20-or-more points in the last 14 games and fifth time in the last nine outings.
With four conference games remaining, Kentucky moves to 12-2 in SEC play, giving the Wildcats a two-game lead over Auburn (10-4). LSU, also with 4 losses, leads South Carolina late in the second half. Florida falls to 9-5 in conference play.
Sixth time with 20 or more points in the last 14 games for @IQ_GodSon. Fifth time in the last nine.
Most importantly, we lead 56-49 with 3:58 left.
Finish this. pic.twitter.com/gpM9gbyvs5
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 23, 2020
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
