Scores

Final

UNLV 60

(21-11, 9-7 MWC)

Kentucky 70

(21-13, 8-8 SEC)

9:30 PM ET, March 17, 2009

Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, KY

1 2 T
UNLV 24 3660
UK 36 3470

Top Performers

UNLV: W. Adams 14 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl

Kentucky: P. Patterson 16 Pts, 11 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Blk

Meeks, Kentucky beat UNLV in rare NIT appearance

Associated Press

Fast Facts

• The Wildcats improved to 4-0 all-time vs. UNLV as they won in their first NIT game since 1979.

• Kentucky snapped a two-game losing streak, while UNLV lost their fifth straight road game and third overall.

• Jodie Meeks led the Wildcats with 19 points. His 817 points this season are the second best single season total in Kentucky history (record is 948 by Dan Issel in 1969-70).

-- ESPN research

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Jodie Meeks scored 19 points and Patrick Patterson added 16 as Kentucky got past UNLV 70-60 Tuesday night in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament, the first NIT appearance in three decades for a Wildcats team accustomed to bigger stages in March.

If there was lingering disappointment after the Wildcats snapped a 17-year streak of appearing in the NCAA tournament, it didn't show on the court.

Kentucky (21-13) scrambled for every loose ball, building a 20-point lead midway through the second half then weathering a late surge by UNLV (21-11) to advance to the next round against the winnner of Creighton and Bowling Green.

With Rupp Arena unavailable due to a scheduling conflict, Kentucky played a game at Memorial Coliseum for the first time since 1976.

Wink Adams led the Rebels with 14 points.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

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Team Stat Comparison

 
UNLV
UK
Points 60 70
FG Made-Attempted 21-54 (.389) 26-52 (.500)
3P Made-Attempted 10-33 (.303) 6-16 (.375)
FT Made-Attempted 8-14 (.571) 12-17 (.706)
Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) 16 (0/0) 11 (0/0)
Largest Lead 7 20

Game Leaders

 
UNLV
UK
PointsW. Adams 14J. Meeks 19
ReboundsM. Rutledge 5P. Patterson 11
AssistsO. Bellfield 5R. Harris 4
StealsW. Adams 3K. Galloway 1
BlocksD. Mitchell 1P. Stevenson 2
Team Stats: UNLV | Kentucky

Series

DATEGAMELINKS
» Mar 17, 2009 @UK 70, UNLV 60Recap