Wildcats Lose Second Straight

Sparingly used Alabama guard Doc Martin was feeling a little anxious before Saturday's game against No. 5 Kentucky. He rode some motherly advice to a career-high 20 points in his first collegiate start as Alabama upset the Wildcats 62-58 Saturday.

"I just listened to my mom's advice," said Martin, starting in place of injured leading scorer Brian Williams. "She just said, `Baby, when you get the ball, just shoot."'

That he did.

Martin came in averaging just 2.3 points and eight minutes, but finished with four 3-pointers and a career-high seven rebounds.

Another unlikely hero, freshman Sam Haginas, then lifted Alabama (13-11, 3-8 Southeastern Conference) to its first victory over the Wildcats (19-6, 8-3) in eight years with some late-game heroics.

Haginas had a dunk and converted a three-point play over the final 19 seconds as he scored the game's last five points.

"I won't realize how big this game was until later on," Haginas said. "It just happened so fast."

Defending national champion Kentucky dropped its second game in three days as Florida snapped the Wildcats' 15-game SEC road winning streak Thursday night.

"Other teams are starting to say, `They're not what they used to be, we can beat these guys,"' Wildcats coach Tubby Smith said. "We're just not making the plays when we're supposed to be and that's where the self-doubt starts."

First-year Alabama coach Mark Gottfried's day ended much more jubilantly than it began.

"Some fans made some comments to me when I was coming in," Gottfried said. "It was almost like a funeral."

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Kentucky's second straight loss has Tubby Smith scratching his head. (AP)

The postgame was more fiesta than funeral.

Gottfried grabbed a microphone after the game near the student section and yelled, "We need you. Keep supporting us."

It was the Tide's second consecutive sellout, the first time that's happened in four years. The Tide had lost four straight and nine of its last 11.

Gottfried showed his players a highlight reel of their best plays of the season before the game. He only played seven players, and Haginas, forward MC Mazique and center Jeremy Hays all played the last 15 minutes after picking up their third foul.

Kentucky was leading 58-57 when Haginas had his shot blocked by Jamaal Magloire on the baseline. Kentucky guard Saul Smith saved the ball from going out of bounds, but Haginas won the scramble for the ball with Magloire. Haginas darted uncontested to the basket with the shot clock winding down and dunked.

"I was wondering where our defense was," Smith said. "There should have been two or three guys between him and the basket."

Then, Kentucky's 6-foot-2 point guard Wayne Turner tried to drive the baseline, but was stuffed by the 6-10 Hays. Haginas scored at the other end and was fouled by Smith with nine seconds left. He drained the free throw.

"It was almost like a dream as it went along," Mazique said.

The Wildcats, who had won 10 straight against Alabama, lost for the first time this year after leading at halftime. Kentucky came in 16-0 when on top at the half and was up 32-28 Saturday. There were 22 ties and lead changes in the second half, as neither team led by more than four points.

Hays had 16 points, 12 rebounds and four steals, while Haginas scored all nine of his points in the second half.

Michael Bradley and Scott Padgett led Kentucky with 14 points each, while Heshimu Evans added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Tide forced 20 turnovers, including 11 steals.

Williams, who injured his heel two weeks ago against Auburn, broke his streak of 96 straight games. He was averaging 15.4 points and, coming in, was the only Tide player to have more than 13 3-pointers.

Martin was 4-for-22 from long range coming in.

"This was a big win for our program and a big win for our players," Gottfried said. "Don't ask me how we did it."

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