Kentucky hurdle over for Missouri

MISSOURI 69, NO. 21 KENTUCKY 60

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri has shown upward mobility under first-year coach Cuonzo Martin, and the latest sign came Saturday — the Tigers’ first victory over Kentucky.

Behind 16 points each from Jordan Barnett and Kassius Robertson, the Tigers earned a 69-60 victory against the No. 21 Wildcats.

Missouri (15-8, 5-5 SEC) had been 0-10 vs. Kentucky (17-6, 6-4) since the teams first played in 1960.

“It’s definitely a really good win, but that’s maybe how I look at it — it’s just another win,” Barnett said. “We’re going to keep competing and hopefully put together a string of wins. I’m not treating this one any different just because of the name on the front of the jersey.”

Kentucky won at least a share of the SEC regular-season basketball title the past three years, while Missouri finished last each time.

Martin said he didn’t realize Missouri had never beaten Kentucky until he was asked about it after the game.

“It’s good for our guys, because there have been some tough years,” Martin said.

The Wildcats didn’t look like a typical Kentucky team. They shot just 31.3 percent from the field and finished with only nine assists.

“The biggest thing is we refuse to pass the ball,” Kentucky Coach John Calipari said. “I don’t have any answer for that.”

Kentucky, which started five freshmen, had only one

player score at least 10 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 15 points but made only 5 of 16 shots.

NO. 18 TENNESSEE 94, MISSISSIPPI 61

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Grant Williams and Lamonte’ Turner scored 17 points each to lead five Tennessee players with at least 10 points Saturday night as the 18thranked Volunteers trounced Mississippi for their fifth consecutive victory.

Tennessee (17-5, 7-3 SEC) has won eight of its past nine games while Ole Miss (11-12, 4-6) has dropped five of its past six.

ALABAMA 68, NO. 23 FLORIDA 50

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Collin Sexton scored 17 points and Alabama rallied from a 10-point deficit to thump No. 23 Florida.

The Crimson Tide (15-8, 6-4 SEC) scored the first eight points of the second half and later used a 15-2 run to open up a double-digit lead.