Kentucky freshman Eric Bledsoe scored a career-high 25 points, Patrick Patterson added 15 and #2 Kentucky stayed unbeaten with an 89-77 victory over Florida on Tuesday night. John Wall chipped in 19, including the team's final seven points. The Wildcats (17-0, 2-0 SEC) ended the game with a 17-5 run and snapped a five-game losing streak in Gainesville.
Erving Walker led Florida with 20 points, and Alex Tyus added 17 points. But the Gators (11-5, 0-2) are off to their worst start in conference play since 1996 - the year before coach Billy Donovan took over.
Florida made this one close in the second half. The Gators tied the game at 72 on Macklin's putback with 5:13 left. Patterson put the Cats back ahead with a turnaround jumper in the lane. He failed to convert the three-point play, but DeMarcus Cousins gathered the rebound. Darnell Dodson then hit a 3. Bledsoe added to the pain with another 3 on the next possession that put Kentucky ahead 80-73 with 3:58 to play. The Gators never recovered. Florida shot just 30 percent from the field and was 3 of 13 from 3-point range. Kentucky had a much easier time. Wall and Bledsoe
blew by Florida's backcourt at will, and Florida's frontcourt was
no match for Patterson and Cousins down low.