College basketball

Kentucky overcomes felled star

By wire services
Published January 26, 2005

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Senior forward Chuck Hayes has played in every game and never even missed a practice because of injury at Kentucky.

His disappearance at Tennessee on Tuesday night was shocking but didn't seem to hurt the seventh-ranked Wildcats.

Hayes, one of Kentucky's two returning starters this season, broke his nose midway through the first half while the Wildcats were on a run that put them ahead for good en route to an 84-62 victory.

Using various lineups full of freshmen and sophomores, the Wildcats made up for Hayes' loss with aggressive rebounding on both ends to remain the only undefeated team in conference play.

"We said you guys need to make up for the loss of Chuck. They've never seen Chuck hurt before. I'll be honest, I don't think I've ever seen Chuck hurt," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. "It showed me what our kids are all about. They really care about one another. They certainly care about Chuck."

Patrick Sparks scored 19 and Kelenna Azubuike 17 for the Wildcats, who outrebounded Tennessee 41-29 and had 21 offensive rebounds.

"All around, we kept our confidence," Azubuike said about losing Hayes.

Sophomores Bobby Perry and Sheray Thomas each had seven rebounds.

"Each player that came in did something positive for us throughout the night, and that was the big key to the game," Smith said. "I liked our poise. We're starting to mature."

The Volunteers went ahead twice in the first half, when the Wildcats lost their leader, top rebounder and second-leading scorer.

Kentucky officials said Hayes was taken to the hospital for X-rays, and they should know more about his status today.

But his departure didn't stop the Wildcats from putting together a decisive 19-5 run before halftime.

After Chris Lofton hit a 3 to put the Vols up 21-20 with 9:21 left before halftime, Kentucky hit three straight 3-pointers to start the run. When Azubuike dunked seven minutes later, the Wildcats went ahead 39-26.

Tennessee missed starting center Brandon Crump, who sprained his left ankle Saturday in an 85-62 loss at Louisville. All he could do was cheer on his teammates from the bench.

"Tennessee without Brandon Crump is a very different team. He's a real threat inside," Smith said. "We felt like coming in our chances were better inside. ... We capitalized with him out of the game."

ARKANSAS: The conference reprimanded coach Stan Heath for criticizing officials after an overtime loss to LSU on Jan. 19. Heath said officials penalized the Razorbacks by changing a 3-point basket to a 2-pointer. Heath said the change was made after officials discovered that Michael Jones traveled before sinking a jumper.

NO. 6 KANSAS 86, BAYLOR 66: Though no longer undefeated, the Jayhawks are still perfect in the Big 12 after Wayne Simien scored 18 and visiting Kansas made a school-record 16 3-pointers.

Simien got the Jayhawks off to a fast start with seven points, including the first two baskets, in a 15-2 run to open the game.

Though Simien didn't attempt a 3-pointer, the four other Kansas players who scored in double figures made at least three 3s each. Jeff Hawkins made all five of his and had 15 points.

NO. 19 UCONN 68, W. VA. 58: Rashad Anderson, coming off the bench for the first time this season, scored 16 of his 22 in the second half to lead the visiting Huskies.

Connecticut outrebounded the Big East's worst rebounding team 47-27, and the Mountaineers made only 8 of 33 3-pointers. But the Huskies were sloppy on offense and shot 39 percent from the field in the second half to enable West Virginia to stay close before losing its fifth straight.

LIPSCOMB 64, UCF 63: Brian Fisk scored 25 and the host Bisons held off a furious rally.

FAU 76, BELMONT 68: Mike Bell had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the visiting Owls led by as many as 15 in the second half before holding off a late Bruins rally.

GEORGETOWN 66, ST. JOHN'S 57: Freshman Jeff Green had 21 points and nine rebounds as the host Hoyas (13-5) matched their win total from last season. Brandon Bowman scored 14 and Ashanti Cook 13 for Georgetown, in its first season under coach John Thompson III.

MICHIGAN: Point guard Daniel Horton was suspended from the team a day after being charged with domestic violence for allegedly choking his girlfriend.

WASH. ST.: Coach Dick Bennett apologized for his obscene gesture toward raucous Washington students during Sunday's loss on the Huskies' court. Bennett raised his middle finger at students leading chants against the Cougars' slowdown style during the first half.

NO. 16 KANSAS ST. 74, NO. 18 IOWA ST. 52: Kendra Wecker had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead the host Wildcats. Claire Coggins and Laurie Koehn added 13 points each for Kansas State, which moved into first place in the Big 12.

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 00:14:07]