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Kentucky hands Florida 4th consecutive loss, 88-79

Jamal Murray scored 21 points, Tyler Ulis added 19 and Kentucky beat Florida 88-79, handing the Gators a fourth consecutive loss.
Jamal Murray - photo by Walter Cornett

– photo by Walter Cornett

Jamal Murray scored 21 points, added 19 and No. 22 beat Florida 88-79 on Tuesday night, handing the Gators a fourth consecutive loss.

made the most of his first start since Dec. 12, chipping in 11 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats.

Kentucky had no answer inside for John Egbunu, who finished with nine dunks and a career-high 27 points, but the Cats more than made up for it by hitting 7 of 10 shots from 3-point range.

They hit all five shots from behind the arc in the decisive second half.

The Wildcats (22-8, 12-5 Southeastern Conference) squandered a 14-point lead late in the first half, and Florida (17-13, 8-9) could have been in front at the break if not for missing 10 free throws in the first 20 minutes. The Gators ended up 16 of 37 from the line.

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Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter’s Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.

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On This Day in UK Basketball History

On March 22, 1958, UK wins its fourth NCAA title by defeating Seattle and Elgin Baylor, 84-72, in Louisville before a home-state crowd of 18,803 in Freedom Hall. The “Fiddlin’ Five” was led by Vernon Hatton’s 30 points.  This is the only NCAA championship Kentucky won within the commonwealth.  The win gave Rupp his most coveted title, the one he vowed to win after the NCAA had suspended UK’s 1953 season.

 

On March 22, 1975, UK upsets undefeated Indiana in the Mideast Regional semifinals to earn a trip to the Final Four. It was the Hoosier's first loss in 34 games.  Indiana was 31-0 and had obliterated Kentucky 98-74 in a December meeting remembered for Hoosiers Coach Bobby Knight slapping UK head man Joe B. Hall in the back of the head.  With the Final Four at stake, Kentucky senior guards Mike Flynn (22 points) and Jimmy Dan Conner (17, five rebounds) came up huge to lead the Cats to sweet payback.

 

On March 22, 1984, Winston Bennett's three-point play with 13 seconds left pushed the Wildcats past Louisville into the Mideast Regional final.

 

On March 22, 1985, Joe B. Hall announces his retirement after UK loses to St. John’s, 86-70, in the NCAA West Regional in Denver.

 

On March 22, 1998, in one of the most anticipated matchups of the NCAA Tournament, UK roars back from a 17-point deficit with 9:38 remaining to defeat Duke, 86-84. Kentucky uncorked an NCAA Tournament rally for the ages behind the relentless penetration of junior point guard Wayne Turner (16 points, eight assists) and clutch three-point shooting from Heshimu Evans, Allen Edwards, Cameron Mills and Scott Padgett.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

March 22, 1893

Hubert Blakey

March 22, 1906

Oliver Steele

March 22, 1930

38 Bobby Watson

March 22, 1976

Wayne Turner
5 Wayne Turner

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