Final Score: Kentucky 81, Lamar 56
Team Records and Series Notes • Kentucky moves to is 5-1 on the season. Lamar is 4-2. o UK is on a three-game winning streak.• UK leads the series 4-0. • Tonight’s game was the third in the BBN Showcase multi-team event. The upcoming game vs. UAB concludes Kentucky’s participation in the event. • Next up: Kentucky continues its eight-game homestand Friday vs. UAB. That game will tip at 7 p.m. and be televised on SEC Network.
Player Notes • Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 21 points, his second 20-point game as a Wildcat.o He made a season-high four 3-pointers, all coming in a 4:12 span during UK’s 20-0 first-half run.o The four triples are most by a Wildcat this season.o Tied his season high for rebounds with five.• Ashton Hagans posted 15 points and a game-high nine assists.o UK is 8-0 in Hagans’ career when he scores at least 14 points. • Nick Richards recorded 10 points and 13 rebounds, his third double-double of the season and fourth of his career.o He is the fourth Kentucky player of the John Calipari era to post at least three double-doubles within the team’s first six games of the season (Patrick Patterson, 2009-2010; Terrence Jones, 2010-2011; Julius Randle, 2013-2014).o Richards only had one double-double in his first two seasons as a Wildcat.o Richards had a career-high seven blocked shots, leading a season-high 13 team blocks. • Immanuel Quickley tallied 11 points and has scored double figures in all five games he’s played this season. o He has hit a 3-pointer in every game he’s played this season.
Calipari • Calipari is now 310-72 at UK. • He has a 755-212 all-time on-court record. • UK is 250-41 vs. Associated Press unranked competition under Calipari, including 151-5 at home.
Team Notes • Kentucky held Lamar to 56 points. o UK is 177-7 under Calipari when the opponent scores 63 points or less, including 3-0 this season.• With the help of a season-high 13 blocked shots, UK limited Lamar to 32.8% shooting. o The Wildcats are 191-17 under Calipari when the opponent shoots 40% or less, including 4-1 this season. • Kentucky led by as many as 27 points in the game. o UK is 265-6 under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points during the game. • UK shot 50.9% from the field tonight, the third game this season shooting 50% or better. • Kentucky made a season-high 10 3-pointers and 45.5% from long range is a season best.o It’s the first time the Wildcats have hit 10 or more 3-pointers in a game since sinking 10 vs. Auburn on Feb. 23, 2019 (11 for 24).• UK dished 19 assists while committing a season-low 11 turnovers, the second straight game with a positive assist/turnover ratio.o The Wildcats have totaled 40 assists over the last two games, their best two-game stretch since totaling 57 vs. Arizona State and UT Martin in November 2016. • UK had a great depth charge tonight, winning bench scoring 29-8.• Kentucky is now 598-70 all-time in Rupp Arena.
In the First Half • The starting lineup consisted of Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney, Nate Sestina and Nick Richards for the third straight game. • Keion Brooks Jr. was the first sub. • Sestina swished a 3-pointer to initiate the scoring, the start of a 10-0 lead to start the game and coax a Lamar timeout with 16:45 on the clock.• UK stretched the lead to 15-2 but Lamar went on a 17-4 run to tie the game.• The Wildcats replied with their most decisive stretch of the season – a 20-0 run that included four 3-pointers by Maxey and scoreless drought of more than seven minutes for the visitors. • Kentucky went to halftime ahead 41-21, with seven 3-pointers already a season high and six blocked shots, tying the season best in just one half of play.• All nine Wildcats who played in the first half also scored.
In the Second Half • UK opened the second half with Hagans, Maxey, Whitney, Montgomery and Richards. • Déjà vu for the Cats in the second stanza, opening with a 7-2 flash that induced a Lamar timeout at 17:03.• Kentucky’s largest lead was 27 points at 81-54.