Kentucky’s Patterson perfect against Seattle

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Patrick Patterson scored 17 points and had a perfect shooting night to help No. 20 Kentucky tune up with an 82-63 exhibition victory over Seattle on Saturday night.

The power forward out of West Virginia started for new coach Billy Gillispie and carried the team on both ends of the court.

He was 6 of 6 from the field, made all five free throws, then added seven defensive rebounds and three blocked shots.

“He’s a dominant force,” Gillispie said. “I don’t think that we did a good enough job getting him the ball. We have to understand where our bread is going to be buttered. That was a lot of buttering right there.”

Kentucky opens Tuesday against Central Arkansas in the first round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.

Within a span of just 4 seconds early in the second half, Patterson showed how he can take over a game. First he dunked home an alley-oop pass from Jodie Meeks, picking up a foul in the process to turn it into a 3-point play. Then, returning to defense, he swatted away a shot in the paint.

Ryan Coldren led the Redhawks with 21 points.

The exhibition commemorated Kentucky’s victory over Seattle in the 1958 national championship game at Louisville’s Freedom Hall. Members of both teams were recognized at halftime.