For the first time since Matt Roark was carried off the field to a hero's welcome in 2011, Kentucky savors an SEC victory.
Patrick Towles threw a 20-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 1-yard run, and Kentucky made three fourth-quarter interceptions to hold off Vanderbilt 17-7 on Saturday to end a 17 game SEC losing streak.
Though the Wildcats (3-1, 1-1) sent 56,940 away happy with their first conference win since November 2011 against Tennessee, there was no wild on-field celebration by Kentucky players after escaping the Commodores (1-4, 0-3). Coach Mark Stoops congratulated several players and shook hands with Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason before departing to cheers.
All of the game's scoring came in the first half with Towles doing the work with his arm and feet. He connected with Ryan Timmons to cap a 99-yard opening drive. He followed Austin MacGinnis' 44-yard field goal with a 1-yard sneak just before halftime.
Kentucky's defense preserved the win by holding the Commodores to just 57 second-half yards and 139 total.
