Dores Cage Cats in Lexington 57-52

Dores Cage Cats in Lexington 57-52

1/10/2006

By JEFFREY McMURRAY, Associated Press Writer

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Shan Foster scored 16 points and Vanderbilt beat Kentucky for the first time in 29 meetings in Rupp Arena, 57-52 Tuesday night.

The return of sophomore center Randolph Morris from a 14-game suspension couldn’t improve the fortune of Kentucky (10-5, 0-1 Southeastern Conference), which had fallen out of the Top 25 this week for the first time since February 2001.

Vanderbilt (11-2, 2-0) hadn’t beaten Kentucky in Lexington since Jan. 28, 1974, at Memorial Coliseum — the longest drought of any SEC team.

Kentucky came into the game reeling from the worst loss in coach Tubby Smith’s nine-year tenure just three days earlier at Kansas.

Foster was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. DeMarre Carroll had 15 points for the Commodores, while Derrick Byars had 12 and Julian Terrell 11.

Vanderbilt built a 14-point lead in the second half, but Kentucky, behind the 16 points and four 3-pointers of Ravi Moss, regained the lead for the last time at 42-41 on a dunk by Sheray Thomas with just under 7 minutes to play.

Kentucky had a chance to tie in the final seconds but Joe Crawford missed a 3-pointer.

The Commodores scored the game’s first eight points, forcing Smith to sub all five starters just 4 minutes in. It’s a move he has tried several times this season, but this time, Morris was among the subs and he entered to thunderous applause.

Morris made his presence felt immediately, taking a pass in the paint and gracefully scoring on a layup. His physical play also drew two quick fouls from Vanderbilt’s Davis Nwankwo, forcing him out of the lineup.

Later, Morris stuffed a shot, although he didn’t get a block because a shot clock violation had been called. He did on the Commodores’ next possession, though, slamming a would-be layup off the backboard.

The Commodores led 23-20 at halftime.