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Patrick Patterson hit 3-of-4 free throws over the final 45 seconds and Kentucky shot a season-high 67 percent to hold on for a 66-63 win over Auburn on Wednesday night at Auburn, Ala.

Patterson had 19 points and eight rebounds and Joe Crawford scored 20 for the short-handed Wildcats (11-9, 5-2 SEC), who won their fourth consecutive league game despite a late scare.

The Tigers (12-9, 2-6) stayed alive with five quick points. Rasheem Barrett hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining and DeWayne Reed then had a steal and layup to make it 64-63.

Crawford saved the Wildcats from serious trouble with a long heave across midcourt to Michael Porter when Auburn nearly forced a 10-second violation.

The Tigers were forced to foul Ramon Harris, who made 1-of-2 free throws with 14 seconds to play. Reed then tried a long 3-pointer that missed badly, and Patterson grabbed the rebound. He made one of two free throws with 3 seconds left.

Patterson made 8-of-10 baskets. Crawford was 8-for-12 and made three 3-pointers for UK.

Quan Prowell led Auburn with 20 points and nine rebounds. Rasheem Barrett had 12 points, Quantez Robertson 11 and Frank Tolbert 10.

The Tigers shot just 41 percent and made 5-of-18 3-pointers.

The Wildcats took advantage of a stretch when Auburn missed eight straight shots to build a 58-48 lead on Patterson's short jumper with 6:22 left.

The Tigers then started to force mistakes with an aggressive, trapping defense.

Tolbert got a steal and then hit two free throws with 2:06 to play to cut it to 62-57 and make it a tight game.

Tolbert stole the ball near midcourt and forced Stevenson to commit his fifth foul to prevent an easy layup

The Tigers had managed to overcome an eight-point deficit to head into halftime tied at 34-all.

Vanderbilt 67, Georgia 59: Reclaiming his spot in the lineup, Ross Neltner hit two key baskets in the final 2 minutes and the No. 23 Commodores won their second in a row, holding off the slumping Bulldogs in Athens, Ga.

Alex Gordon scored 14 points for the Commodores (19-4, 4-4 SEC), including two free throws with 30.3 seconds left.

Georgia (11-9, 2-5) was led by Sundiata Gaines and Jeremy Price with 13 points each.

Miss. State 73, Alabama 66: Charles Rhodes and Jamont Gordon scored 17 points apiece and combined for 15 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs at Starkville, Miss.

The win snaps a two-game skid for Mississippi State (15-7, 6-2 SEC) and guarantees the team will continue to hold at least a share of the lead in the SEC Western Division.

It's the Bulldogs' first season sweep of Alabama in nine seasons.

Despite trailing most of the second half, Alabama (13-10, 2-6) cut its deficit to two points on an Alonzo Gee field goal at the 3:20 mark. But Jarvis Varnado answered after a missed shot by Alabama and put the Bulldogs back up by four.

Barry Stewart had 13 points and nine rebounds and Ben Hansbrough scored 10.

Gee led the Tide with 16 points and five rebounds.

© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.