LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - DeAndre Liggins tied a career-high with 19 points and No. 18 Kentucky ruined Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl's return to the bench with a 73-61 victory on Tuesday night.
Josh Harrellson added 16 points as the Wildcats (17-6, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) broke a modest two-game losing streak by burying the Volunteers with a big run in each half.
Pearl, suspended for Tennessee's first eight conference games by SEC commissioner Mike Slive as punishment for lying to NCAA investigators during an ongoing probe into the school's recruiting practices, wore his trademark creamsicle blazer but was more subdued than usual.
Melvin Goins led Tennessee (15-9, 5-4) with 16 points and Scotty Hopson had 11 after missing two games with a left ankle injury but the Volunteers never got going.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
