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Kentucky tops Alabama to gain SEC final

Mar 12, 2011 - 10:23 PM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Josh Harrellson's double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds powered 15th-ranked Kentucky to a 72-58 win over Alabama in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.

Doron Lamb had a team-high 15 points for the Wildcats (24-8), who will play Florida in Sunday's title game. DeAndre Liggins posted 14 points and nine boards, while Brandon Knight scored 12 with seven assists for the defending tournament champions.

"We really guarded," said Kentucky head coach John Calipari. "Offensively were really good. We didn't shoot fouls like we're capable of, but other than that, it was a good win for us."

Tony Mitchell supplied a game-high 16 points to pace the Crimson Tide (21-11), the West Division's top seed. JaMychal Green finished with 12 points and nine rebounds in defeat.

"I thought Kentucky was very good today," said Alabama head coach Anthony Grant. "They came out right from the beginning, and from an offensive standpoint, they had success early. And we were playing catch up really for the entire game."

Kentucky, like it did Friday against Ole Miss, never trailed Saturday, racing out to a 17-8 lead on a Liggins three-pointer.

The Wildcats, the East's second seed, stretched the margin to 37-21 at the break and continued to pull away in the second half, grabbing a 64-38 lead on a Terrence Jones free throw with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.

Game Notes

Darius Miller scored 10 points for Kentucky, which shot 50 percent from the field and limited Alabama to 42 percent...The Crimson Tide haven't advanced to the SEC title game since losing to Mississippi State in 2002.