Final Score: No. 17/16 Auburn 75, No. 13 Kentucky 66
Team Records and Series Notes
- Kentucky is 16-5 overall, ending a four-game winning streak. UK is 6-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Auburn is 19-2 overall, tying UK for second place in the SEC at 6-2.
- UK leads the series 94-21, although Auburn has won two in a row.
- Next up: Kentucky hosts Mississippi State, which has won five of its last six, on Tuesday at 9 p.m.It will be televised on ESPN.
Player Notes
- Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points, his 14th double-figure scoring game of the season.
- He made 10 of 12 free throws, both season highs.
- He’s averaging 19.4 points in UK’s five games against Associated Press Top 25 opponents.
- Immanuel Quickley led the Wildcats with 23 points, his 10th straight game in double figures.
- He’s the first Wildcat to score in double figures in 10 straight games since PJ Washington did it in 12 straights from Jan. 15 to Feb. 23, 2019.
- He made 9 of 10 free throws, tying career highs in both categories.
- He’s averaging 17.5 points over the last 10 games.
- It was his 10th game scoring 15 points or more and the seventh time in the last 10 games.
- Ashton Hagans fouled out with five points and three assists, ending his 17-game streak of at least five assists.
- It was the longest streak since Tyler Ulis did it 24 straight games from Dec. 26, 2015 to March 17, 2016.
Coach John Calipari
- Calipari and UK coaches wore a blue puzzle piece on their lapels today, raising awareness for autism in the Coaches Powering Forward program.
- Calipari is now 321-76 at UK.
- He has a 766-216 all-time on-court record.
- UK is 62-33 against AP Top 25 foes under Calipari, including 3-2 this season.
- UK is 54-29 under Calipari when both teams are ranked.
- UK is 142-40 under Calipari in SEC regular-season games.
Team Notes
- Auburn won the rebounding 42-28. The Tigers got 17 offensive rebounds and won second-chance points 17-5.
- UK is 0-4 this season when being outrebounded.
- The Wildcats are 2-2 when surrendering 15 or more offensive rebounds.
- Auburn made 33 of 44 free throws. It’s the most free throws by a UK opponent since Kansas attempted 47 on Jan. 30, 2016.
- Kentucky limited Auburn to 35.3% from the field.
- UK fell to 197-19 (.912) under Calipari when keeping the opponent at 40 % or less, including 10-3 this season.
- Entering the game at 77.4% at the foul line, the Wildcats had another solid performance at 83.3% (20 of 24). It is UK’s third straight game at 80 or better%.
In the First Half
- The starting lineup consisted of Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley, EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards for the seventh time this season. The Wildcats are 5-2 with the lineup.
- Nate Sestina was UK’s first substitute at the 15:49 mark.
- UK got three points on each of its first three possessions – long ball by Maxey, basket-and-one by Quickley, and a long ball by Hagans. Less than two minutes into the game, UK was ahead 9-2.
- However, UK then went more than eight minutes without a field goal and Auburn responded with a 12-1 run for a 14-10 lead.
- UK responded by holding Auburn scoreless for more than six minutes, putting together a 9-0 spurt for a 19-14 Wildcat advantage.
- Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl received a technical foul with 2:43 remaining. Quickley made both foul shots, followed by two more freebies by Maxey, to make the score 32-26.
- Auburn retook the lead with a 9-0 run, but Maxey hit a 3-pointer to send Kentucky to halftime with a 35-34 lead.
- Kentucky made 5 of 10 on 3-pointers in the first half as Maxey and Quickley led the way with 12 points each.
- UK is now 14-2 this season when leading at halftime.
In the Second Half
- Kentucky began the second half with the opening lineup.
- Hagans got his fourth foul with 14:41 left and the Wildcats trailing 48-44. UK drew its seventh team foul with 12:12 on the clock.
- With Kentucky ahead 60-59, Danjel Purifoy’s 3-pointer with 3:59 to go put the Tigers ahead for good, the start of a 6-0 run that gave Auburn a 65-60 cushion.
- Kentucky got no closer than four points as Auburn pulled away for the win.