LEXINGTON, Ky., 22 November 2004 — Chuck Hayes scored 12 points and hauled down a game-high 13 rebounds as ninth-ranked Kentucky routed Coppin State, 77-46, in a non-conference season opener for both schools at Rupp Arena.
Patrick Sparks, a transfer from Western Kentucky, finished with 12 points, five boards and three assists for Kentucky (1-0), which improved to 84-18 all-time in season openers.
Sparks was 3-of-7 from three-point range, helping the Wildcats shoot 10-of-23 from beyond the arc.
Antwan Harrison came off the bench to contribute a team-high eight points for the overmatched Eagles (0-1), who turned the ball over 22 times. Darryl Proctor, Darryl Roberts and Robert Pressey added seven points apiece.
Kentucky jumped out to a commanding 15-point lead and looked to blow the game open a little more than midway through the first half. Joe Crawford’s trey from the corner staked the Wildcats to a 21-6 lead with under 11 minutes left in the first half.
Coppin State attempted to claw back into the contest late in the half. Derek Daniels’ basket capped a quick 8-4 surge, trimming the deficit to 25-14 with under seven minutes remaining in the half.
However, Kentucky closed out the stanza with a 15-4 flurry, ending in consecutive three’s by Kelenna Azubuike and Sparks, stretching the Wildcats advantage to 40-18 heading into the locker room.
The Wildcats put the game away in the opening stages of the second half. Hayes ignited a 10-0 spurt that was capped by Rajon Rondo’s driving lay-up, handing Kentucky a commanding 50-18 margin two minutes into the second half. Coppin State never recovered after that.
The rout continued as the lead grew to 35 points on two free throws by Hayes, making it 69-34 with under eight minutes left in the contest. The Eagles never threatened from that point on.
