Kentucky honors Joe B. Hall in the best way possible, by routing Tennessee – Yahoo Sports

Joe B. Hall, who died Saturday at age 93, amassed 297 wins during his coaching career at Kentucky from 1972-85.

Maybe Kentucky should give him one more.

Seemingly inspired by the pre-game festivities at Rupp Arena honoring Hall, the No. 18 Wildcats (14-3, 4-1 SEC) took control late in the first half and rolled to a 107-79 victory over No. 22 Tennessee (11-5, 2-3).

TyTy Washington Jr. scored 14 of his career-high 28 points in the first half for Kentucky, which won its third straight game. The Wildcats also improved to 12-0 at home this season.

Kentucky guard TyTy Washington Jr. was a big reason the Wildcats won on Saturday. (Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports)

The Wildcats shot 67.9% from the field their best percentage in any SEC game in the past 25 years.

Kentucky scored 52 first-half points against the Vols who entered the game only allowing 60.7 points per game and took a 52-38 lead into the break. The Wildcats began the second half with a 15-7 run over the first 3:39 to open up a 22-point advantage at 67-45.

Kentucky's lead grew as big as 89-57 on a Kellan Grady free throw with 8:18 left. Grady finished with 16 points.

Sahvir Wheeler scored 21 points for Kentucky. Oscar Tshiebwe (nine points, 12 rebounds) was denied his 13th double-double of the season, but his free throw with 2:31 left gave Kentucky its 100th point. No Tennessee team under Rick Barnes had given up 100 points in a game before Saturday.

The Wildcats remembered Hall in a video tribute before the game.

The Wildcats also came out in a 1-3-1 zone a defense that Hall loved but Calipari's team doesn't play on their first possession. Calipari was also coaching with a rolled-up program in his hand, another Hall trademark.

Unfortunately for UK fans, the Vols scored on the possession. But the Wildcats took a 6-5 lead early in the first half and never trailed again.

Kentucky had quite a day, but the day belonged to Joe B. Hall.

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Kentucky honors Joe B. Hall in the best way possible, by routing Tennessee - Yahoo Sports