LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Patrick Patterson led a 15-4 second-half surge that put the Kentucky Wildcats on track for a 72-66 upset of the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers Tuesday.
Patterson, who finished with 20 points, scored five and batted away a shot during the key run that put the Wildcats up 54-52 with 9:23 to go. The Vols managed to tie the game 60-60 with 2:19 left, but then missed six straight shots and Kentucky hit all 12 of its free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
Ramel Bradley contributed 16 points for Kentucky, including 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, Perry Stevenson had 14 points and five blocks, and Joe Crawford added 10 points.
Tennessee (16-2, 3-1 SEC) got 22 points from Chris Lofton. The Vols lost for the first time in a dozen games.
Kentucky (8-9, 2-2 SEC), which had lost its last two games, has won 11 of its last 12 meetings against the Vols.
