NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jermaine Beal and Lance Goulbourne each scored 17 points as Vanderbilt routed Kentucky 77-64 Tuesday night, handing the Wildcats their fourth loss in six games.
“That’s more like what I’ve gotten accustomed to with these guys in terms of their energy and effort,” said head coach Kevin Stallings. “I was really pleased, even at halftime. We played with good intensity and emotion.”
Kentucky (18-8, 7-4) came in part of a three-way tie atop the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division with two straight wins. But the Wildcats played a second straight game without sophomore center Patrick Patterson because of a sprained ankle, and his teammates didn’t give enough help to Jodie Meeks, the nation’s fourth-leading scorer averaging 25.8 points a game.
Meeks scored 26. A.J. Stewart added 11 off the bench before fouling out.
“Meeks is a great player and a great scorer,” said junior guard Jermaine Beal. “I think Jeff (Taylor), George (Drake), Charles (Hinkle), just everybody charged with guarding him did a good job defending him. He got 26 points, but it took him 21 shots to do it.”
Vanderbilt (16-9, 5-6) has won four of its last five. This series dominated for so long by Kentucky now has swung Vandy’s way with six wins in eight games against the Wildcats, including four straight in Memorial Gym.
