LEXINGTON, Ky. _ Earlier in the week, Kentucky coach John Calipari said he'd like at least five players to have scored 25 points in a game this season. This would make for confident player options in the NCAA Tournament, he said.
Calipari pointedly added that Immanuel Quickley had not joined the club.
Quickley answered that with a career-high 26 points Saturday night as Kentucky grinded out 65-59 victory over Florida.
UK improved to 22-5 overall and 12-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Florida fell to 17-10 and 9-5.
A 3-pointer by Florida freshman Ques Glover at the buzzer tied the score at 31 at halftime. It was the first tied halftime score for UK this season.
With Florida leading 40-33 and less than 17 minutes remaining, Quickley breathed life into his nickname as the "Killer." He scored 15 of UK's next 17 points.
Quickley concluded that spree with three 3-pointers in two minutes and nine seconds. The third put Kentucky ahead 50-44 and prompted a Florida timeout with 11:12 left.
Kentucky's first-half offense was almost exclusively in the paint. After EJ Montgomery opened the game with a baseline jumper, UK did not make another shot outside the lane until Keion Brooks made one from the left wing with 1:36 left in the first half.
Hagans added a 3-pointer from the right corner on the next possession. That meant seven of UK's 31 first-half points were not from the paint or free throws.
The pattern continued into the second half. Of UK's first 41 points, 28 came from the paint and five were free throws.
Then Quickley scored from seemingly everywhere to set Kentucky on a path to victory.
Kentucky's weakness for drama continued. Three turnovers inside the final 80 seconds narrowed the lead to 61-59. Free throws by Tyrese Maxey and Quickley clinched it.
