Freshman Bogans Sparks Kentucky

With three-point accuracy and fast-break explosiveness, Keith Bogans turned the expected heavyweight fight between 14th-ranked Kentucky and No. 6 Tennessee into a romp for the Wildcats.

Bogans, a freshman guard, scored a career-high 25 points, including 16 of his team’s first 23, as Kentucky took over first place in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division Tuesday night with an 81-68 victory over Tennessee at Lexington, Ky.

“It felt good,” Bogans said. “It felt like I couldn’t miss so I kept shooting. That’s what a guy dreams of, that every shot he shoots is falling.”

The victory pushed the Wildcats’ winning streak at Rupp Arena to 15 games and avenged Kentucky’s last home loss, a 47-46 setback to Tennessee last season.

Kentucky, 16-5 overall and 6-1 in the SEC, has won 12 of 13 games since starting the season 4-4 and dropping temporarily from the national rankings.

Tennessee (18-3, 6-2) saw its SEC road winning streak come to an end at six.

Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith said Bogans’ big night was a product of teamwork.

“All our guys are growing, maturing, they’re feeling more comfortable with each other,” he said. “He was open because of the other players doing other things for him to get his shots.”

Three days after scoring 16 points in a victory at Miami, Bogans was even more dominant against the Volunteers. He was a threat from everywhere on the court, making four of eight three-point shots and finishing three fast breaks with layups.

Kentucky also got 17 points from Tayshaun Prince, 14 in the second half.

No. 8 Michigan State 82, Michigan 62--Morris Peterson had 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spartans (16-5, 7-1) over the Wolverines (12-6, 3-4) in a Big Ten game at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Mateen Cleaves, playing his eighth game since recovering from a broken foot, had 19 points and six assists for the Spartans. Andre Hutson added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the two-time defending Big Ten champions.

It was the third consecutive loss for Michigan, which played without freshman Jamal Crawford, its leading scorer. Crawford was told before the game that the NCAA was investigating his living arrangements before enrolling at Michigan.

No. 21 Temple 75, Massachusetts 48--Mark Karcher scored 17 points and the Owls (15-4, 8-1) continued their defensive dominance in an Atlantic 10 rout of the Minutemen (11-9, 5-3) at Amherst, Mass.

Temple, which ranks first in the nation in defense--giving up 53.5 points a game--allowed more than 47 points for the first time in five games. The Owls outrebounded Massachusetts, 48-20, in their sixth consecutive victory.

Monty Mack scored 14 points for Massachusetts, which had its lowest scoring output of the season and suffered their worst loss ever in Mullins Center.