Vandy ends Kentucky streak in SEC tourney

NEW ORLEANS, March 11 (UPI) -- Jeffrey Taylor scored 18 points and Kedren Johnson nailed a 3-point play Sunday to lift Vanderbilt to the SEC Tournament crown with a 71-64 win over Kentucky.

Johnson was fouled while scoring on a layup with 1:30 to play and then knocked down a free throw to put Vanderbilt (24-10) ahead 65-62.

The play capped a 16-2 run late in the game that secured the unranked Commodores their first SEC tournament championship since 1951.

Top-ranked Kentucky (32-2) saw its bid for a 28th title foiled and its 24-game winning streak come to an end. The Wildcats remained a likely choice for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tourney.

Darius Miller scored 16 points to lead with Wildcats, who shot 35.9 percent from the field. Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones scored 12 apiece.