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LEXINGTON, Ky. - Alabama's star was getting sick just as Kentucky's was getting better, so the outcome was rather predictable for the reeling Crimson Tide and surging Wildcats.

Ramel Bradley had 19 points - including three clutch 3-pointers - in his return to the lineup as Kentucky cruised 62-52 Saturday over an Alabama team playing without leading scorer and rebounder Richard Hendrix, who had the flu.

"I feel bad for him," Bradley said. "It's not a good feeling at all to be so sick you can't do anything."

Bradley should know.

The spark plug senior guard who seldom misses a minute of a game, let alone an entire one as he did earlier this week against Auburn, had spent most of the week in bed recovering from a concussion and stomach virus.

Alabama certainly felt the absence of Hendrix, one of the nation's top big men who averages 19 points and 10 rebounds a game. Even without him, the Crimson Tide was competitive near the basket, outscoring the Wildcats in the paint 26-24.

"You do things differently obviously because the ball goes to Richard so much, but all of our guys played hard," Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said. "You're not going to reinvent the game with one guy out."

Kentucky (12-9, 6-2 SEC) has been rolling in SEC play, winning five straight games and lurking just behind Tennessee for first place in the East. The Crimson Tide (13-11, 2-7) has lost seven of its last nine.

In the absence of Hendrix, who made the trip to Lexington but stayed in bed rather than board the bus to the game, guard Mykal Riley led the Crimson Tide with 19 points.

Hendrix's replacement, sophomore Yamene Coleman, did admirably in Hendrix's absence with a career-high 10 points in his third start. He also largely contained Kentucky's star freshman center Patrick Patterson, who had 12 points.

Bradley played only 29 minutes rather than his usual 40, and coach Billy Gillispie chewed him out during an early timeout, concerned about his sluggish play.

"I didn't think he was leading our team very well at the start, but he really picked it up after he got past the concussion syndrom and played great," Gillispie said.

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