Lamonte Turner lifts Tennessee to first regular-season sweep against Kentucky since 1999

Knoxville

Tennessee's Admiral Schofield dunks for Tennessee's final basket in their 61-59 win over Kentucky during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lamonte Turner has made a lot of big plays and clutch shots for Tennessee basketball this season.

But none was the bigger than the shot the sophomore guard stepped into with 25 seconds left at Kentucky on Tuesday night. With the shot clock winding down, Turner sized up the shot and confidently released a high, arcing 3-pointer over Kentucky's Quade Green.

It was good, and it propelled the Vols to their first regular-season sweep against Kentucky this millennium with a 61-59 win at Rupp Arena.

"As a kid, you dream of coming to Rupp Arena and winning games like this and hitting shots like that," Turner said. "It’s very big. It’s exactly what I dreamed of.”

Turner led No. 14 Tennessee (18-5, 8-3 SEC) with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, to lift the Vols to their sixth straight win. Jordan Bowden had 13, including 11 in the second half as Tennessee won at Kentucky for the first time since 2006.

More:UT Vols: 5 things that happened the last time Tennessee won at Rupp Arena

Admiral Schofield scored 12 and Grant Williams had 10.

“I wanted to make a statement that Tennessee basketball is here and we are going to be here for a little bit," Schofield said.

Neither team took control of the game for the first 35-some minutes. The lead changed 17 times and the teams were tied for more than a quarter of the game.

Williams gave Tennessee the game’s first two-possession lead with a pair of free throws with 4:54 to play.

But the No. 24 Wildcats (17-7, 6-5) had a 7-0 run in response to flip the lead back in their favor. P.J. Washington scored first with a pair free throws and Jarred Vanderbilt scored on a put-back after he stole a Jordan Bone pass. Then Kentucky took advantage when Schofield tripped as he ran toward a Turner pass.

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UK’s Kevin Knox picked it up and finished a highly contested layup while being fouled to give Kentucky a 53-50 lead.

Bowden kept battling back for the Vols, grabbing a key offensive rebound and scoring four straight before Williams made two free throws to tie the game 56-56 with 1:53 to play.

“We just kept talking about, ‘Let’s stay with it defensively and rebound the ball and we will find something to get done on the other end,'" Vols coach Rick Barnes said.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put Kentucky ahead with a floater over a leaping Kyle Alexander, but then Turner hit his big 3-pointer to put Tennessee ahead 59-58.

He said it made up for giving up Vanderbilt's tip-in on an earlier possession. His teammates just said it was clutch.

“I tell coach all the time, 'Put him in late in the game because I think he is the most clutch guy I’ve been around,'" Schofield said. "He is a big-time shooter in my book. He puts the work in. … I’m proud of him. I’m happy for him. He deserves everything he’s got.

"But the biggest thing is Tennessee beat Kentucky in Rupp tonight. That was our goal coming in here. We got it done.”

Tennessee's Lamonte Turner (1) takes an uncontested shot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, in Lexington, Ky. Tennessee won 61-59. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Schofield capped the win with a thunderous open-court dunk to put Tennessee ahead by three with 4.1 seconds to play after a critical Bowden steal and toss ahead in the open court.

Bowden fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with one second left to prevent the Wildcats from attempting a game-tying 3-pointer. Gilgeous-Alexander made the first free throw and missed the second, sending the Vols into a frantic celebration.

“It was an ugly game both ways for both teams, but we fought to the end," Schofield said.

Both teams struggled mightily offensively early, scoring 32 points total in the first 16-plus minutes before combining for 21 points in the final 3:31.

Kentucky went on an 8-2 run sparked by a pair of big blocks on the defensive end and a Weynen Gabriel 3-pointer to take a 22-19 lead.

The Vols countered out of a timeout with a Schofield turnaround jumper and a Turner 3-pointer to retake the lead 24-22. Turner hit another 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in the first half and led the Vols with 11 first-half points.

But his final shot with 25 seconds to play was the one that mattered most.

"He had the confidence and I think his teammates have confidence in him, too," Barnes said. "He’s not afraid to take the shot."

Stopping Williams

Williams had 10 points for Tennessee, eight of which came at the free-throw line, as the Wildcats did a strong job defensively in stopping the sophomore forward.

Barnes said the Vols weren't surprised to see Kentucky consistently double team Williams, who averages more than 16 points per game.

“We knew they were going to come at him hard," Barnes said. "They trapped him a couple times out there at the 3-point line. ... We are not surprised. I think this time of year, we knew that they would go at him on the defensive end, which they did. We knew he was going to get double-teamed. We thought certainly they would do that.”

Kentucky coach John Calipari had his praises for Williams after the game in which he attempted a season-low three field goals.

“He’s a terrific player," Calipari said. "He’s got to be one of the player of the year candidates in my opinion.”