CATS WIN 96-68 IN #2 SCRIMMAGE

Updated: 9:37 PM ET Mon, Aug. 16, 2010

Cats crush Western Ontario, 96-68

By Jerry Tipton / jtipton@herald-leader.com

WINDSOR, Ontario -- Western Ontario wanted to hold on to the ball and limit Kentucky’s fast-break chances. The Mustangs went 0-for-two Monday night as UK improved to 2-0 on its exhibition series in Canada.

As Western Ontario committed almost 30 turnovers, Kentucky’s transition game had plenty of fuel to win 96-68. The Cats complete the series Tuesday morning (11 a.m. tipoff) in a rematch with Windsor.

Freshman Doron Lamb led UK with 24 points. Darius Miller added 20, and freshman Brandon Knight chipped in 17 and a solid floor game. Josh Harrellson had 12 points. Adam Jespersen led Western Ontario with 21 points.

With a second straight blowout victory assured, Kentucky could have gone exclusively for highlight material. Instead, the Cats kept the defensive pressure turned up high.

Western Ontario’s turnover total exceeded 20 with more than seven minutes left. And during one memorable sequence, UK put Western in panic mode with the 35-second shot clock inside 5 seconds. The Mustangs got a three-point shot from Adam Jespersen, but Darius Miller blocked the attempt as the shot clock expired.

On Western Ontario’s next possession, Ryan Barbeau drove but had his shot blocked by Josh Harrellson.

Less than 2 minutes into the game, it was apparent Western Ontario would have trouble keeping the ball, hence Kentucky would get fast-break chances. Western Ontario called time with 18:39 left. Two fast-break baskets by Doron Lamb helped UK take a quick 6-0 lead.

As in the game against Windsor the night before, Kentucky’s opponent hung around deep into the first half. Western Ontario trailed 31-28 at the TV timeout with 7:28 left.

Leading 38-28 (its first double-digit lead) with 5:38 left, Kentucky appeared to be ready to take the on-ramp to Easy Street. But after a turnover led to a Western Ontario layup, Coach John Calipari called timeout with 4:55 left. The strategy was to go to Darius Miller. He missed.

When Quinn Henderson swished a three-pointer, suddenly the lead was down to 38-33. That prompted another Calipari timeout with 4:30 left.

This time, Knight drove with purpose to a layup, his first basket, to change the momentum. Kentucky led 48-37 at halftime. Getting four points in the final 6.4 seconds of the half established what was UK’s largest lead to that juncture.

Knight, mostly quiet in the half, hit two free throws with 6.4 seconds left to give the Cats a 46-37 lead. Then, perhaps feeling the heat from UK’s pressing throughout the half, Western inbounded the ball to a player who had turned his back on the inbounds man. Lamb scooped up the loose ball and banked in an off-balanced shot a second before the buzzer to set the halftime score.

MIller led UK with 13 points in the first half. LIggins added 11. Knight, who scored 31 against Windsor on Sunday night, had seven points and seven assists.

Andrew Wedemire led Western with 12 points. Adam Jespersen, a Canadian native and transfer from Hawaii, added 10 points.

Kentucky blew out to a 20-point lead inside the first 5 minutes of the second half.

As Western Ontario continued to struggle with turnovers, UK scored on five out of six possessions.

Knight’s three-pointer (his second basket and first that wasn’t a layup) put Kentucky ahead 57-40. A three-pointer by Jon Hood off a set dribble-drive play put UK ahead 60-40. On the play, Knight drove, then flipped a pass back to Hood near the top of the key.

As the second half unfolded, Kentucky added style points to an assured victory.

Miller made a steal and a nifty behind-the-back pass that got Knight a fast-break dunk. Later, Knight threw a pass across the lane that Doron Lamb converted for a layup.

Aside from what acrobatic moments might be ahead, the only remaining mystery was the final score.