Kentucky holds off Alabama to advance to SEC Tournament finals

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Published Mar 11, 2017

Kentucky holds off Alabama to advance to SEC Tournament finals

Derek Terry

Beat Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Kentucky and Alabama met in Tuscaloosa a month ago, Crimson Tide coach Avery Johnson felt like it was a winnable game. "They weren't clicking on all cylinders," Johnson said after the Crimson Tide's nine-point loss to Kentucky.

The Wildcats once again weren't clicking on all cylinders on Saturday, but it was Kentucky who made plays down the stretch to hold off Alabama in a 79-74 win.

"I thought Avery had his team ready to go," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "Those kids fought like heck. We were lucky to get out alive."

De'Aaron Fox scored 10 of his career-high 28 points in the final five minutes of the game while Malik Monk added 20 points for the game despite not shooting well from the field. Monk had combined for just eight points his past two games, but got out of his funk against the Crimson Tide. 13 of Monk's 20 points came in the first half.

"Malik Monk got up early to come to this gym by himself with Wenyen Gabriel and one of the coaches to get extra shots," Calipari said. "He came early. He did it."

Alabama, a desperate team with no chance of making the NCAA Tournament without an upset of the Wildcats, stayed within punching distance throughout the second half. Even when Kentucky went on an 11-2 run after Fox was fouled on a deep two-pointer with the game tied, the Crimson Tide were able to battle back.

Kentucky led by just two with 3:30 left after a made free throw by Alabama freshman Braxton Key. Fox took over from that point and the Wildcats, who were just 69 percent from the line on the day, made most of its free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

Bam Adebayo was the only other Kentucky player in double-figures as he scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Alabama freshman Dazon Ingram led the Crimson Tide in scoring with 17 points.

With the win, Kentucky advances to the SEC Tournament finals for the seventh time in eight years.

"We have a great will to win," Calipari said. "These kids share. And if someone gets it going, they let him go. That is a great sign for us going forward."