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No. 25 Kentucky seeks 10th win over Tennessee in 11 games

Jan 28, 2007 - 2:47 PM Tennessee (14-6) at No. 25 Kentucky (15-5) 1:00 pm EST

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Ticker) -- Just when Kentucky appeared to making its claim as one of the nation's elite teams, it hit a significant bump in the road.

The 25th-ranked Wildcats attempt to halt their second two-game slide of the campaign Sunday when they host long-time rival Tennessee in a Southeastern Conference encounter.

After losing to North Carolina on December 2, Kentucky won 11 consecutive games - including its first four in conference play - before consecutive losses to Vanderbilt at home and at Georgia.

The Wildcats squandered a 17-point first-half lead in Wednesday's 78-69 overtime defeat to the Bulldogs. Joe Crawford made 12-of-20 shots and scored 29 points for Kentucky, which was outrebounded, 43-31.

Despite averaging 82.4 points to rank among the nation's leaders, Tennessee has lost four of its last five contests and is just 2-3 in the SEC.

The Volunteers are looking to bounce back after Wednesday's 83-69 defeat to Mississippi. JaJaun Smith scored 22 points and Ramar Smith added 16 for Tennessee.

Kentucky has taken nine of the last 10 matchups against Tennessee and has an 81-16 record in the series here.