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No. 1 Kentucky races past Georgia

Mar 2, 2012 - 7:37 AM Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - Darius Miller celebrated his final game at Rupp Arena in style, scoring 17 points to lead top-ranked Kentucky past Georgia, 79-49, on Thursday.

Senior night was a walk in the park for the Wildcats (29-1, 15-0 SEC), who also received 12 points and seven rebounds from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and nine points, eight rebounds and two blocks from national player of the year candidate Anthony Davis. The Wildcats are trying to become the fourth SEC team since 1956 to run the table in conference play.

Kentucky's assumed weakness, long-range shooting, was a strength on Thursday. Miller drained five of the team's 15 three-pointers, as the Wildcats shot their way to a 41-point lead at one point.

"We'll beat you by a bunch when we shoot it like that," said Kentucky coach John Calipari, "and that's what happened today."

Donte Williams led Georgia (13-16, 4-11) with 17 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope donated nine.

Georgia head coach Mark Fox echoed Calipari after the game, calling the Wildcats "a great team" -- particularly if they can knock down threes.

"They'll be hard to beat when they shoot the ball like that, no matter who they're playing," he said.

Kentucky scored the first seven points, including two plays that energized the home faithful. Davis stepped outside and drained a rare three then reserve senior Eloy Vargas converted from in close to cap the stretch.

The Wildcats' lead finally reached double digits at 22-9 on Lamb's trey, and Kidd-Gilchrist stepped outside for another long ball and a 27-13 lead with just under 7 1/2 minutes to go in the half.

Miller's three doubled up the Bulldogs at 34-17, and Kentucky went into the half up 37-19 after the senior connected from long range once again.

Georgia had no answer for Miller or Kentucky's three-point shooting as back- to-back threes from Kyle Wiltjer and Lamb handed the home team a 55-28 lead. At one point, Kentucky made six straight threes, the last one again from Miller for a 67-30 lead.

Marquis Teague's triple moments later capped a 24-5 stretch for the biggest lead of the night, 72-31. The Wildcats scored 24 points in just over five minutes.

Kentucky rolled to a rout and sent Miller and Vargas off with standing ovations in the final minute.

Game Notes

Georgia is the last road team to win in Rupp Arena (2009)...Kentucky swept the season series and leads the all-time series, 115-25...Wiltjer and Terrence Jones each scored nine points for Kentucky.