By Ralph D. Russo
The Associated Press

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Erik Daniels grabbed a tipped desperation pass out of the air and laid it in as time expired to give No. 5 Kentucky a 67-66 victory over No. 20 Mississippi State on Tuesday night.

Mississippi State forward Lawrence Roberts battles Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes (44) for a rebound in the final seconds of their game Tuesday. (AP photo)

The previously unbeaten Bulldogs (13-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half, taking a 66-65 lead with a minute left on Branden Vincent's putback.

But Winsome Frazier and Timmy Bowers both missed the front end of 1-and-1s in the final 30 seconds, giving Kentucky (11-1, 2-0) a shot to win it in the final seconds.

Cliff Hawkins inbounded the ball from the side with 2.5 seconds left and tried to throw a lob to Chuck Hayes underneath. Mississippi State's Lawrence Roberts had two hands on the ball, but Hayes tipped it away and Daniels never had an easier game-winning basket.

Gerald Fitch had 23 points and Daniels finished with 16 for the Wildcats, who have won 19 straight SEC regular-season games.

Bowers led the Mississippi State comeback and scored 20 points, while Roberts had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

The Wildcats have won four straight, the last three against ranked teams and the last two against opponents who came in with perfect records.

Kentucky players Chuck Hayes, left, Bobby Perry, center, celebrate with teammate Erik Daniels after he scored the game-winning basket. (AP photo)

Kentucky handed No. 23 Vanderbilt its first loss on Saturday.

Mississippi State, off to its best start, has lost six straight against ranked teams.

Kentucky appeared in control when Fitch hit a 3 with 9:40 left to make it 54-40.

But Mississippi State gave the third-largest crowd in Humphrey Coliseum history a charge with consecutive 3-pointers by Bowers to cut it to 56-51 with 6:44 left.

The Wildcats calmly responded with a dunk by Kelenna Azubuike and a 3 by Hawkins to bump it back to 61-52.

The Bulldogs surged again.

Bowers hit a 3 and Roberts and Frazier got consecutive hoops on offensive rebounds to make it 63-61. Another putback by Roberts gave the Bulldogs' their first lead of the game with 1:55 left, 64-63.

Azubuike made it 65-64 with a jumper and Bowers went for another 3 and missed.

Again, the Bulldogs crashed the boards with Vincent getting the hoop.

But the Bulldogs couldn't seal it and Kentucky earned coach Tubby Smith his 299th career victory.

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KENTUCKY (11-1)-Daniels 7-10 2-3 16, Hayes 4-14 1-2 9, Hawkins 3-10 1-1 8, Fitch 8-13 2-2 23, Azubuike 2-5 0-0 4, Moss 0-1 0-0 0, Carrier 0-0 0-0 0, Obrzut 1-2 0-0 2, Cote 2-4 0-0 5, Barbour 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-60 6-8 67.

MISSISSIPPI ST. (13-1)-Roberts 6-12 3-4 15, Vincent 2-3 0-0 4, Campbell 1-4 0-0 2, Bowers 7-16 0-1 20, Frazier 4-9 1-3 9, Ervin 3-7 4-4 11, Power 2-3 1-1 5, Slater 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 9-13 66.

Halftime-Kentucky 37-28. 3-Point goals-Kentucky 7-15 (Fitch 5-9, Cote 1-1, Hawkins 1-1, Moss 0-1, Azubuike 0-3), Mississippi St. 7-22 (Bowers 6-13, Ervin 1-1, Power 0-1, Roberts 0-2, Frazier 0-5). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Kentucky 27 (Azubuike 7), Mississippi St. 39 (Roberts 14). Assists-Kentucky 12 (Hawkins, Hayes 3), Mississippi St. 10 (Ervin 4). Total fouls-Kentucky 16, Mississippi St. 11. A-10,432.