University of Kentucky

UK MBB: UK-Auburn Postgame Notes

January 17, 2021
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KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES  
KENTUCKY at AUBURN

AUBURN ARENA

JAN. 16, 2021  
ATTENDANCE: 1,824

Final Score: Auburn 66, Kentucky 59

Team Records and Series Notes                                       

  • Kentucky falls to 4-8 overall, 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference.  
  • Auburn is now 8-6 on the season, 2-4 in league play.
  • Kentucky still leads the series 95-22. UK leads 31-17 in games played in Auburn.
  • The series has been very competitive of late. Auburn has won five of the last nine games.
  • Next up for the Wildcats: After a few days back home for practice, Kentucky will be back on the road. UK will play at Georgia on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game is on SEC Network.

Player Notes   

  • Davion Mintz led the Wildcats for a team-leading fifth time this season with 11 points.
    • He knocked down a 3-pointer for the fifth straight game. 
  • Jacob Toppin contributed 10 points and a team-high-tying six rebounds. 
    • It’s the second time he’s reached double-figure scoring this season, he also had 10 at Louisville.
  • Keion Brooks Jr. scored eight points and added a team-high-tying six rebounds.
  • Dontaie Allen poured in eight points – all in the first half – which included a pair of 3-pointers and his first career dunk.
    • He is 15 of 30 from 3-point range in league play.

Coach John Calipari 

  • Calipari is now 334-85 at UK.
  • Calipari has a 779-225 all-time on-court record. 
  • UK is 271-50 under Calipari against teams unranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
  • Calipari is 12-5 in his career vs. Auburn.
  • Kentucky is 56-19 under Calipari in the game following a loss (does not count end-of-season losses).

Team Notes 

  • Kentucky lost the rebounding battle 41-38 and surrendered 16 offensive rebounds to the Tigers.
  • The Wildcats committed 18 turnovers and have five such games this season with 18 or more miscues, including two straight. UK has lost four of those five games.
  • UK blocked six shots and has six or more in seven outings this season. 
    • The Wildcats have swatted six or more in five consecutive games.
  • The loss snapped a two-game winning streak away from home.
  • Kentucky is shooting 48.1% from the floor and 44.4% from 3-point range in its four wins, but only 38.5% overall and 23.0% from 3-point range in its losses.
  • UK’s 59 points tied a season low. The Wildcats also scored 59 in the loss at Louisville.
  • The Wildcats lost despite holding Auburn to 38.3%. UK is 205-21 under Calipari when holding the opposition to 40% or less from the floor and now 3-2 on the season.

In the First Half 

  • The starting lineup consisted of Devin Askew, Davion Mintz, Brandon Boston Jr., Isaiah Jackson and Olivier Sarr for the third time this season. UK is now 1-2 when that lineup starts.  
    • Lance Ware and Dontaie Allen were the first substitutes at the 18:20 mark.
  • It was a sluggish start for both teams. The Wildcats started 0 of 6 from the floor with two turnovers before making their first field goal and Auburn started 1 for 16 overall before making its second field goal nearly 10 minutes into the game.
    • Allen broke the 0-for-6 Kentucky start with a thunderous one-hand slam, his first dunk of his Kentucky career.
    • The two teams ended up combining to make just two of their first 23 over the first 6:58 of game time.
  • Allen was the only Wildcat to score for the first 7:53 of game time until Jacob Toppin made a driving layup to put UK up 7-2. 
  • After starting with a 9-2 lead thanks to the stingy UK defense, Auburn answered with a 6-0 run.
  • The Wildcats gave up 12 offensive rebounds but only allowed it to turn into four second-chance points.
  • Kentucky held the Tigers to 24.2% shooting, a season best for a half. 
  • UK led 25-21 at halftime. Kentucky is now 2-4 when leading at the half. 
    • It was a season-low point total in a half (tied for Auburn) for both teams.
  • Allen and Toppin led UK with eight points apiece.

 In the Second Half 

  • Kentucky opened the second half with Askew, Mintz, Boston, Jackson and Sarr.  
  • The teams traded baskets for much of the first 10 minutes of the second half. 
  • UK led by as many as four at the 14:16 mark on a Brooks Jr. second-chance putback.
  • Auburn utilized a 9-0 spurt to take a seven-point lead, 50-43, at the 7:37 mark.
  • The lead swelled to as many as 10 with 5:36remaining. 
  • UK clawed back and pulled to within two twice, the latest coming on a Toppin dunk with 58 seconds to play.
  • The Tigers closed the game with a made layup and a perfect 4 of 4 from the free-throw line to keep the Wildcats from getting any closer.