LEXINGTON, Ky., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Kyle Wiltjer fueled a second-half run Thursday that allowed the No. 3-ranked Kentucky Wildcats to cruise to an 87-63 win over the Loyola-Maryland Greyhounds.
Kentucky (11-1) led by just six after an Erik Etherly short shot got Loyola within 54-48 with 16:09 to play in the second half.
But after Wiltjer fed Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for a dunk and then scored the next four points, the Wildcats were off on a 19-2 run and a 73-50 advantage with 10:14 to go. Wiltjer had seven points in the spurt
Wiltjer connected on 7-of-11 of his shots and 7-of-8 free throws en route to a game-high 24 points. Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis, who also had 11 rebounds, each added 15 points and Darius Miller had 13 for the Wildcats.
Loyola (8-3) was paced by Etherly's 14 points, which came on 7-of-8 shooting. Dylon Cormier was second high for the Greyhounds, scoring 13 points.
