KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
UAB at #9/11 KENTUCKY
RUPP ARENA | LEXINGTON, KY.
NOV. 29, 2019
ATTENDANCE: 20,401
Final Score: Kentucky 69, UAB 58
Team Records and Series Notes • Kentucky improves to is 6-1 on the season. UAB falls to 4-2. o UK is on a four-game winning streak.• UK leads the series 4-2. • Tonight’s game was the fourth in the BBN Showcase multi-team event. The Wildcats won all four. Tonight’s game concluded the multi-team event.• Next up: Kentucky continues its eight-game homestand Dec. 7vs. Fairleigh Dickinson. That game will tip at 4 p.m. and be televised on SEC Network. • A season-high 20,401 fans were in attendance.
Team Notes • Kentucky dished out 19 assists against UAB marking the third straight game the team has totaled 19 or more dimes. The 59 assists over the last three games is the best stretch for the Wildcats since passing out 64 from Nov. 25 to Dec. 3, 2016 (UT Martin, Arizona State, UCLA). • The Wildcats scored seven of their 26 field goals (26.9%) byway of dunks. Nick Richards led the way with five of his seven made field goals coming from a slam. It marked a season-high number of flushes for the Cats.• Kentucky held UAB to 58 points. o UK is 178-7 under Calipari when the opponent scores 63 points or less, including 4-0 this season.• Kentucky led by as many as 20 points in the game. o UK is 266-6 under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points during the game. • UK is now 599-70 all-time in Rupp Arena.• Kentucky outrebounded UAB by 13 (39-26). The Wildcats have outrebounded each of their last four opponents.• UAB entered the game averaging 15 offensive rebounds per game, ranking in the top 10 in the nation in the category. UK limited the Blazers to eight offensive boards and just 10 second-chance points.• After hitting just one 3-pointer against Utah Valley, the Wildcats have now made five or more from long range in three straight. UK was 5 of 15 (33.3%) from 3 today.
Player Notes • EJ Montgomery scored a career-high 16 points and added a season-high eight rebounds in his second start of the season.o Montgomery eclipsed double digits in the scoring column for the first time this season and the third time in his career. o He also had a team-high two blocked shots.• Ashton Hagans posted nine points, a career-high-tying 12 assists and two steals.o He also had 12 assists against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament semifinals on March 16.o It marked his fourth straight game with at least five assists, matching the longest streak of his career which he also did from Jan. 19-29. o It’s his first time with back-to-back games of at least eight assists since doing it in three straight games Jan. 22-29.• Nick Richards logged 16 points and a game-high nine reboundswhile celebrating his 22nd birthday. o Richards threw down a game-high five dunks and leads the Wildcats with 18 slams this season. o He made all seven shot attempts and is shooting at a team-best 67.2% clip from the field this season.o Prior to this season, Richards had led the team in scoring in just one career game. Today’s team-high-tying 16-point effort marked the third such game of the season for Richards.o He’s led the team in rebounding in four games this season and now six for his career.
Calipari • Calipari is now 311-72 at UK. • He has a 756-212 all-time on-court record. • UK is 251-41 vs. Associated Press unranked competition under Calipari, including 152-5 at home. • Calipari improved to 15-3 all-time vs. UAB.• UK improved to 172-10 in Rupp Arena under Calipari.
In the First Half • With Nate Sestina out with a left wrist fracture sustained in practice earlier this week (out four games) the starting lineup consisted of Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney, Nate EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards for the third straight game. o It’s the fourth different starting lineup for UK in seven games.o Keion Brooks Jr. was the first sub. • Richards started the game with a two-hand dunk and Hagans followed with a long 2, forcing UAB to call a timeout just 58 seconds into the game. • The Wildcats missed their next six field goals to aid a 7-0 UAB run.• Kentucky answered with a 9-0 run to retake the lead 13-7. • The overall run was 14-3, which included four points from Montgomery and a long 3 from Maxey. • UK took its first double-digit lead of the game, 27-17 at the 4:30 mark on a Richards jumper.• Kentucky’s front-court duo of Richards and Montgomery calmed concerns of Sestina’s absence with a solid first half. The duo combined for 16 points (on 8-of-9 shooting) and 10 rebounds.• Montgomery scored eight points and grabbed six boards.• Richards tallied eight points and four rebounds.• UK shot 50.0% from the floor with five 3-pointers. • Hagans posted eight assists in the first half to go along with six points.
In the Second Half • UK opened the second half with Hagans, Maxey, Whitney, Montgomery and Richards.• The Wildcats were in control all second half. A 10-2 run put UK up 56-38 with 10:23 left in the half. • Kentucky’s largest lead was 67-47 (20 points) at the 4:31 mark.