NCAA basketball: Meeks' big night carries Wildcats
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1/13/2009 - 1/14/09
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Jodie Meeks scored a school-record 54 points to help Kentucky cruise to a 90-72 win over No. 24 Tennessee on Tuesday.Meeks, who broke Dan Issel's 39-year-old record of 53 points set at Mississippi, was mobbed by his Kentucky teammates in the middle of the Thompson-Boling Arena court, where the Wildcats (13-4, 2-0 SEC) handed the Volunteers their third loss in January.
The Southeastern Conference's leading scorer surpassed his previous high of 46 points, which he set Dec. 20 against Appalachian State, with 4:50 left as he hit an open 3, one of 10 3-pointers he would make for the night. He set the record on free throws with 1:31 left.
Down by 6 at the half, Tennessee (10-5, 1-1) cut Kentucky's lead to 43-41 on a fastbreak basket by Wayne Chism a minute and a half into the second half.
But the Vols' spotty defense couldn't contain Meeks, who hit a layup and two 3-pointers to help the Wildcats on a 10-0 run that gave them a 53-41 lead. Even contested shots sank perfectly through the nets.
Kentucky began stumbling into foul trouble with 9:34 left, and Tennessee — which to that point had shot 35 percent from the free-throw line — sank
11 straight bonus shots to cut the Wildcats' lead to 71-64 with 6:52 left.
But Meeks, who also went a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line, scored nine straight points to put the game away. No other Kentucky player scored in double figures. Patrick Patterson grabbed 12 rebounds.
Tyler Smith led Tennessee with 19 points, Chism tallied 18 points and Bobby Maze added 11 points.
WOMEN'S TOP 25
No. 1 Connecticut 77, DePaul 62
In Storrs, Conn., Maya Moore scored 18 points and top-ranked Huskies won their 102nd consecutive game against an unranked opponent.
The sophomore had 16 at halftime and needs just 29 more to reach 1,000 for her career.
Renee Montgomery added 16 points and nine assists and Tina Charles had 11 points and nine rebounds for UConn (16-0, 3-0 Big East).
Natasha Williams and Deirdre Naughton each had 21 to lead DePaul (13-5, 1-3).
China Threatt, who had been averaging just over 3 points per game added 12.
UConn has now won 24 consecutive regular-season games, and 32 straight at home. It was the Huskies' sixth straight win over DePaul.
No. 8 Texas A&M 67, Texas Tech 56
In College Station, Texas, Takia Starks had 21 points and Danielle Gant scored 12 of her 18 in the last five minutes to lead the Aggies past the Lady Raiders.
The win is A&M's sixth straight over the Lady Raiders (10-5, 1-1 Big 12) and is the Aggies' 13th consecutive home win.
The Aggies (14-1, 2-0) led 53-51 before Gant scored eight straight points to secure the win. Gant made two quick baskets before hitting eight free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach.
The loss breaks a five-game winning streak for the Lady Raiders.
Marquette 75, No. 10 Notre Dame 65
In Milwaukee, Angel Robinson scored 19 and Krystal Ellis added 18 to help Marquette upset the Fighting Irish, snapping Notre Dame's seven-game winning streak.
The game was tied at 52 with 10:18 remaining. Marquette closed the game on a 23-13 run. Ellis sparked the surge with two 3-pointers and Robinson added seven points for the Golden Eagles (11-5, 2-1 Big East).
Junior guards Melissa Lechlitner and Ashely Barlow led the Fighting Irish (14-2, 3-1) with 15 points each.
It was Marquette's first win over a top-10 team.
