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Kentucky uses big second half to beat Kansas

Nov 16, 2011 - 6:13 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - From selfish to supportive, the young Wildcats are growing by the half.

Doron Lamb led all five starters into double figures with 17 points, as second-ranked Kentucky overcame a sluggish start to down No. 12 Kansas, 75-65, as part of the Champions Classic.

Terrence Jones added 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while one of the heralded freshmen Anthony Davis added 14 points, six rebounds and seven blocks for Kentucky.

The Wildcats (2-0), in a near replay of their sloppy first half in a season- opening victory over Marist, shot poorly, lacked ball movement and committed too many turnovers, allowing the Jayhawks to hang around to a 28-28 stalemate after 20 minutes.

The second half was far different.

Marquis Teague and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who each scored 12 points, led the way in a 47-point output over the final 20 minutes.

Tyshawn Taylor led Kansas (1-1) with 22 points, while Thomas Robinson posted a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds in defeat.

It took the Wildcats just under 4 1/2 minutes to push the halftime tie to a double-digit lead. Five straight from Teague opened a 41-30 lead then, after two Taylor free throws, Kidd-Gilchrist and Teague connected on consecutive layups for a 13-point margin.

Lamb started to find his stroke later in the half, draining three treys in less than three minutes, the final dagger expanding the advantage to 54-37 nearly halfway through. The margin reached that pinnacle several other times, and Kansas got no closer than nine in the final seconds.

Kansas came out with the moxie at the outset, scoring 10 of the game's first 13 points. Kentucky scored the next eight, but the Jayhawks punched back, taking an 18-12 lead on Conner Teahan's three-pointer. Travis Releford's layup moments later put the Jayhawks in front by seven, 21-14.

The Wildcats started clawing back, tying the game at 26-26 on Jones' three with just over two minutes remaining, and the contest stayed even into the locker room.

Game Notes

Kentucky made 51 percent of its shots and 7-of-15 from beyond the arc...The Jayhawks converted on only 34 percent of their shots...Teague and Kidd- Gilchrist played like freshmen with seven combined assists to 11 of the team's 19 turnovers...Kentucky leads the all-time series, 20-6.