UGA men rip Kentucky, hurt reigning champion Wildcats' NCAA chances

By Reuters News Service (585)

As of Thursday, March 7, 2013
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald

Bulldogs guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) passes the ball to a teammate past Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin (10) and forward Kyle Wiltjer (33) during the second half of Thursday's game.

ATHENS -- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope collected 24 points and 10 rebounds and Nemanja Djurisic added 12 points as the host Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak against the Wildcats with a 72-62 win.

Donte' Williams chipped in 10 points and eight boards for Georgia (15-15, 9-8 SEC), which has won two straight and three of its last four to maintain its slim hopes of finishing at .500 or better and earning a postseason berth of some sort.

Archie Goodwin scored 20 points and Willie Cauley-Stein added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (20-10, 11-6), who have dropped two straight to damage their hopes of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky led by as many as six early, but Georgia used a 6-0 burst to regain the lead and took a 31-26 advantage into halftime thanks to Caldwell-Pope's 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

The Bulldogs led throughout the second half. Kyle Wiltjer's 3-pointer capped a 7-0 run to pull Kentucky within 50-47 with 7:47 left, but Georgia answered with a 12-0 spurt to put it away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Caldwell-Pope has scored in double figures in every game this season. ... Georgia has matched last season's win total and ensured it will finish at .500 or better in the SEC for the third time in the past 10 years. ... Kentucky G Julius Mays was held scoreless and went 0-for-2 from 3-point range, snapping a streak of 18 consecutive games with at least one 3.

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