NASHVILLE, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Gerald Fitch scored 18 points and Keith Bogans added 16 as the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats used a huge run in the second half to rally Tuesday night for a 74-52 Southeastern Conference victory over Vanderbilt.
Kentucky (12-3, 3-0 SEC East) trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and faced a 36-28 deficit at the break. The Wildcats were still down, 38-31, when Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith took off his suit jacket with 17:35 remaining.
The teams traded a pair of foul shots before a basket by Bogans started a 10-0 run for a 41-40 edge. Chuck Hayes had a three-point play and Cliff Hawkins added a layup off a steal for Kentucky, which forced turnovers on four straight possessions.
Matt Freije's basket gave Vanderbilt (8-6, 1-2) a 42-41 lead before the Wildcats responded with a devastating 15-1 tear. It featured numerous fast-break opportunities for Kentucky, several miscues by Vanderbilt and Smith exhorting his team from the baseline, where the benches are located at Memorial Gym.
Marquis Estill had five points in the run and Fitch nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 56-43 with 8:14 to go. The final margin was the Wildcats' biggest advantage.
