College Basketball: Kentucky's Poythress out for season

A somber hush hovered over Kentucky basketball players Friday, replacing the jovial atmosphere that usually exudes from this group of Wildcats (10-0).

They were coming to grips with the sudden loss of one of their leaders for the rest of the season, junior forward Alex Poythress.

Willie Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson reservedly talked about Poythress' devastating knee injury on a routine layup in practice.

But the top-ranked Wildcats don't have a lot of time to regroup emotionally as they prepare for Saturday's match with No. 21 North Carolina (6-2).

"We definitely have to try to get a win for him and just play hard for him," Johnson said. "I know if he was out there, he would play his hardest."

Poythress, 6-foot-8 and 240-pounds, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the school said Friday. A date for surgery has not been set, but recovery typically takes six to eight months.

Gwynedd Mercy 66, King's 42 - Arron Goodman (Council Rock North) scored 18 points to lead the Griffins (6-3) past the hosts in the first day of Monarch Classic at King's. GM will square off with Wilkes tomorrow.

Maryland 94, American 50 -

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the No. 14 Terps to a rout of the visiting Eagles.

Laurin Mincy had 16 points, and Brionna Jones and Kristen Confroy each added 11 points for Maryland.
- Staff and wire reports