National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Kentucky 68, Vanderbilt 66
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Officials: # Jim Burr, # Mike Roberts, # Ted Valentine
Attendance: 24275

Brandon Knight scored 17 points, including two crucial free throws with 8.2 seconds left, as No. 23 Kentucky blew a 13-point second-half lead but settled down for a 68-66 victory over visiting Vanderbilt on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (21-8, 9-6 SEC) moved into a second-place tie with the Commodores in the SEC East.

Festus Ezeli had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Vanderbilt (21-8, 9-6 SEC), which could have locked up second in the East and earned a first-round bye in next week’s SEC Tournament.

The Commodores play host to No. 14 Florida on Saturday, while Kentucky, which is 1-6 in SEC road games, travels to Tennessee Sunday.

Vanderbilt trailed by 15 points late in the first half and was down 55-42 with 12:46 to go. But the Commodores chipped away, and took their first lead 60-59 on Lance Goulbourne’s drive with 4:24 left.

Terrence Jones put the Wildcats ahead 64-63 on a free throw with 52.5 seconds left, and added two free throws to make it 66-63 with 18.8 seconds to go. Goulbourne’s drive with 8.8 seconds left brought Vanderbilt within 66-65.

Two Brandon Knight free throws put Kentucky ahead 68-65 with 8.2 seconds to go. Brad Tinsley hit one of two free throws for Vanderbilt with 6.8 seconds left, and after Vanderbilt forced a turnover with 1.1 seconds to go, an inbounds lob to Ezeli was knocked away as time expired.

Top Game Performances
 
Vanderbilt   Kentucky
Festus Ezeli 22 Scoring Brandon Knight 17
Brad Tinsley 9 Assists Brandon Knight 3
Festus Ezeli 13 Rebounds Josh Harrellson 9
Festus Ezeli 6 Free Throws Made Brandon Knight 6
Jeffery Taylor 2 Steals Josh Harrellson 3
Festus Ezeli 3 Blocks Josh Harrellson 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Vanderbilt 66 44.8 2-11 12-17 13 33 3 4
Kentucky 68 42.4 4-10 14-17 6 32 6 6