Kentucky, South Carolina In SEC Final
Kentucky, South Carolina To Meet In SEC Finale
ATLANTA -- Southeastern Conference Eastern Division rivals Kentucky and South Carolina advanced to the SEC title game on Sunday with convincing semifinal victories.
The seventh-ranked Wildcats defeated No. 16 Arkansas, shooting 63 percent in the first half and coasting to a 99-74 victory. In the second game, BJ McKie scored 37 points and Melvin Watson added 27 -- both career highs -- as the Gamecocks' backcourt dominated No. 10 Mississippi in an 87-77 win.
Defending league champion Kentucky has won five of the past six SEC tournaments and swept South Carolina during the regular season, 91-70 and 69-57.
A roundup of Satuday's SEC semifinal action:
No. 7 Kentucky 99, No. 16 Arkansas 74
Twenty minutes of perfection will beat 40 minutes of hell every time.Seventh-ranked Kentucky destroyed No. 16 Arkansas' vaunted pressure defense Saturday, shooting 63 percent in the first half and coasting to a 99-74 victory in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Kentucky (28-4) built a 58-33 halftime lead and Arkansas (23-8) never got closer than 20 the rest of the way. Twelve players scored for the Wildcats and five were in double figures, led by Jeff Sheppard with 17 points.
No. 15 South Carolina 87, No. 10 Mississippi 77
South Carolina advanced to its Southeastern Conference championship game thanks to a two guards who picked Saturday to play their best.BJ McKie scored 37 points and Melvin Watson added 27 -- both career highs -- as the Gamecocks' backcourt duo dominated No. 10 Mississippi in an 87-77 victory in an SEC semifinal game.
"They're great players who had a great game," said Mississippi guard Keith Carter.
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