Kentucky 79, Alabama 67

ATLANTA - Kentucky would have preferred to wait another day to start the Southeastern Conference tournament. Fortunately for the Wildcats, they were at a place that feels just like home.<br> <br> Ramel Bradley and Randolph Morris scored 17 points apiece to lead five players in double figures and Kentucky romped to another victory in Atlanta, overcoming a slow start to beat Alabama 79-67 in the opening round of the SEC tournament.<br> <br> The Wildcats (21-10) solidified their expected NCAA berth in a season that hasn&#39;t lived up to expectations so far. They finished fourth in the SEC East, forcing them to play on the opening day of the tournament for the second year in a row.<br> <br> But Kentucky always seems to do well at the Georgia Dome, winning for the 19th time in 23 appearances at the football stadium-turned-basketball arena that is a frequent host of the SEC tournament.<br> <br> After Alabama (20-11) raced to a 21-11 lead just past the midway point of the first half, the Wildcats took command with a 13-0 run that ended with a dunk by Morris. Bouncing back from a 3-of-15 start from the field, Kentucky made 11 of its last 15 shots in the first half.<br> <br> The Crimson Tide claimed its last lead at 27-25, but Kentucky responded with three straight 3-pointers two by Bradley, another by Jodie Meeks. The Wildcats closed the half with an 11-0 spurt for a 35-27 lead at the break.<br> <br> Kentucky pulled away with yet another run in the second half. Bradley hit a jumper, then another 3 to spark a 9-0 run that put the Wildcats up 61-47. Alabama never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.<br> <br> The loss likely cost the Crimson Tide, which got as high as No. 4 in The Associated Press rankings early in the season, any hope of making the NCAA tournament. Alabama will go down as one of the year&#39;s biggest disappointments, their slide caused by injuries, erratic play and a lack of toughness.<br> <br> Richard Hendrix led Alabama with 21 points. Alonzo Gee added 15 and Jamareo Davidson, who played with a bad back, had 12. Point guard Ronald Steele played only 12 minutes because of an ailing knee, managing just 2 points and one assist.

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