Georgia Enjoys an SEC Stunner

Georgia hadn’t beaten Kentucky in 16 meetings.

Jarvis Hayes and Ezra Williams were determined to make sure the eighth-ranked Wildcats weren’t going to win a 17th in a row.

The two combined to shoot 19 of 32 from the field and made key baskets down the stretch as the Bulldogs beat Kentucky, 88-84, Wednesday at Lexington, Ky.

Hayes scored a career-high 30 points and Williams added 20 as Georgia (13-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) stopped the losing streak and won in Lexington for only the third time in history.

“We knew coming in it was going to be tough,” said Hayes, who was 12 of 18 from the field. “We knew with the crowd on their side, we’d have to come in and make a statement. I think we did.”

Jules Camara had a career-high 16 points for Kentucky (9-4), which lost its second in a row and dropped to 0-2 in the Southeastern Conference for the first time since 1978-79.

“We’re not playing well defensively and we’re not making plays,” said Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith, a former Georgia coach. “We lack the toughness to make the clutch plays down the stretch.”

No. 1 Kansas 96, Nebraska 57--Nick Collison had 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Jayhawks (13-1, 2-0 Big 12) opened the game with a 25-4 run en route to victory at Lawrence, Kan.

The Jayhawks, who replaced Duke atop the AP poll this week and have won 13 in a row, connected on their first six three-pointers and 11 of their first 13 shots in taking a 57-24 halftime lead over Nebraska (7-6, 0-2).

No. 3 Florida 104, Tennessee 100--Brett Nelson scored 20 points, including two key free throws and a three-pointer in overtime, to help the Gators (13-1, 2-0 SEC) extend their winning streak to 12 games by beating the Volunteers (6-7, 1-1) at Knoxville, Tenn.

Florida, which had six players score in double figures, trailed by three points with 10 seconds left in regulation before Nelson’s three-pointer with 3.1 seconds to go tied it at 94 to force overtime.

Jon Higgins tied it in overtime, but Nelson’s fourth three-pointer put Florida ahead for good, 99-96.

Justin Hamilton led Florida with 22 points and 10 assists.

Vincent Yarbrough scored a game-high 26 points for the Volunteers.

No. 4 Maryland 112, North Carolina 79--Juan Dixon had 29 points at College Park, Md., as the Terrapins (12-2, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) cruised past the Tar Heels (5-7, 1-2), Maryland’s most lopsided victory in the 79-year-old rivalry and the most points ever allowed by North Carolina.

The margin of victory easily eclipsed Maryland’s 25-point rout of North Carolina in February 1939.

Purdue 84, No. 9 Illinois 75--Rodney Smith had 17 points to lead six Boilermakers (9-8, 1-2) in double figures as they avoided their first 0-3 start in the Big Ten in 38 years by beating the Illini (12-4, 1-2) at West Lafayette, Ind.

Frank Williams led Illinois with 23 points.

No. 13 Iowa 70, Northwestern 60--Reggie Evans scored 21 points and Luke Recker added 20 to lead the Hawkeyes (13-4, 2-1 Big Ten) past the Wildcats (8-5, 0-2) at Iowa City.

No. 14 Alabama 92, Vanderbilt 79--Erwin Dudley scored a season-high 24 points and the Crimson Tide (14-2, 2-0 SEC) made 31 of 36 free throws in the second half to beat the Commodores (10-5, 0-2) at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

No. 16 Boston College 88, Villanova 81--Troy Bell sank a floater in the lane with 6.5 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime and finished with 36 points as the Eagles (13-2, 2-1 Big East) escaped at Villanova, Pa.

Villanova (9-3, 2-1) turned the ball over five times in overtime. All its losses have been in overtime.

Iowa State 71, No. 17 Missouri 67--Tyray Pearson scored a career-high 28 points, Jake Sullivan added 20 and the Cyclones (9-7, 1-1 Big 12) made one key shot after another down the stretch in beating the Tigers (11-4, 1-1) at Ames, Iowa.

Kareem Rush broke out of a shooting slump to lead Missouri with 29 points.