LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky and its seniors would not allow Maryland to grab a grand opportunity last night.
Buoyed by the possibility of their university's first-ever No. 1 ranking, the Terps were rudely pulled back by the winningest program in the history of college basketball, as No. 5 Kentucky used a 21-8 run at the end of the first half and a rabid crowd of 24,321 at Rupp Arena to defeat No. 2 Maryland, 103-91.
The game turned in the last six minutes of the first half, when the Wildcats used some of the weapons that had served the Terps so well over the last month. Kentucky beat Maryland (10-1) down the floor and was simply quicker and stronger in the spurt that turned a tie game into a 13-point affair at the break.
Down by as many as 17 points, and by 15 with less than eight minutes remaining, the Terps kept playing and twice got within four in the final minute, but the defending NCAA champions made nine straight free throws to repel Maryland's comeback.
"That was a great college game," said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, a native of St. Mary's County. "Maryland has a talented team, and thank goodness the game was played in Rupp Arena."
Earlier in the day, top-ranked Connecticut survived a one-point scare at Pittsburgh. Maryland pounded that same Pitt team by 35 points two weeks ago, and the Terps and their 30.2-point average margin of victory were poised to replace Connecticut atop the rankings.
But Maryland did not defend well, particularly in the telling stretch that closed the first half, when the Wildcats knocked down their shots and the Terps. Kentucky (9-1) went ahead 54-41 with that 21-8 spurt, and one of the key components was Maryland's weak transition defense.
"Kentucky was really quick with the ball in the first half," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "When we would score, they were very quick to come right back and score. Our defense wasn't good enough, period. When you play a team like Kentucky, which has a tradition of winning big games, you can't play defense like we did and win."
It was Kentucky's 11th straight win against a ranked foe. The best any opponent had shot against Maryland this season was DePaul, at .415. Kentucky shot .542, and its three senior starters outscored Maryland's 73-33.
Heshimu Evans, who transferred in from Manhattan and helped the Wildcats to their second NCAA title in the last three years last season, had a career-high 31 points, and his three-pointer from the right corner with 5: 21 left was a dagger in the Terps' rally. Sophomore forward Terence Morris led Maryland with a career-high 26 points, but he was matched by senior Scott Padgett, who had a career-high 25 and a game-high 13 rebounds. Point guard Wayne Turner had 17 points and seven assists, and made a diving stop to keep Morris from making it a six-point game with 2: 16 left.
Freshman Tayshaun Prince was the primary defender on Steve Francis, but all of the Wildcats ganged up on the junior guard, who earned every one of his 25 points.
Junior big man Jamaal Magloire had six blocks, several on Francis, but the most publicized newcomer in the nation kept driving until he fouled out with 1: 00 left, seven seconds after his three from the top of the key made it 92-86.
"They were constantly coming after me," said Francis, who nearly made a recruiting visit here last April. "I didn't do anything to Kentucky, I don't know why they came after me. They didn't knock me down. They knocked Maryland down."
Maryland got within four on a three by Morris with 51 seconds left, then on two Juan Dixon free throws 12 seconds later, but it wasn't enough.
The Terps were in a comeback mode because of that letdown at the end of the first half, when Kentucky ran, defended and did all of the things that Maryland has done over the last month.
"We feel that transition is our game, too," Padgett said. "We've always been a running team, but up until the last few games, it's been hard to press because we weren't making our shots."
Padgett, who earlier this season missed 18 straight three-pointers, was a perfect 4-for-4 beyond the arc, where Morris had trouble locating him. He began and ended the telling 21-8 run with threes, as he broke a 33-33 tie from the left wing with 6: 09 left, and beat the halftime buzzer with a cool 25-footer from the right side. The ESPN replay appeared to show the red time light come on before Padgett's release.
Maryland's last lead came at 31-30, when a turnover was converted into a basket by Laron Profit. The senior forward did not score the rest of the way, and center Obinna Ekezie had only five of his 19 in the second half. Point guard Terrell Stokes had three assists to two turnovers.
The Terps were the highest-ranked visitor to Rupp Arena since then No. 1 Indiana lost here 19 years ago. It was Maryland's sixth straight loss on a nationally ranked opponent's court. The last time it was victorious in that circumstance came on Jan. 19, 1997, when then-sophomore Profit's three-pointer beat unbeaten and No. 2 Wake Forest.
The Terps are off until next Saturday, when they play Princeton in their annual appearance at the Baltimore Arena.
Close calls No. 1 Connecticut scores five points in the last nine seconds to spoil Pittsburgh's upset bid. 5e
No. 7 North Carolina needs a second-half rally and a basket at the overtime buzzer to beat N.C.-Charlotte. 7e
Pub Date: 12/13/98