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Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky vs. Michigan State

The Kentucky Wildcats’ freshman-laden lineup showed big potential but couldn’t stop the Spartans.

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  • ‘s record is now 2-1, while is 2-0.
  • Kentucky leads the series 12-11, with Michigan State leading 3-2 in neutral sites. Michigan State has won seven of the last 11 meetings.
  • The game featured the earliest matchup between teams’ ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the Associated Press’ history of the poll.
  • Kentucky returns to action at home on Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Robert Morris. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will air live on CSS.

First-Half Facts

  • Kentucky started with the lineup of sophomore  and freshmen Aaron Harrison, AndrewHarrison,  and  for the third-straight game. That lineup is 2-1 on the year.
  • Four freshmen have now started in 138 total games in the history of the program, with 99 of those coming under the direction of .
  • Freshman  was ‘s first sub off the bench. It is the first time of the season he has checked into the game first.
  • Michigan State opened the game on a 10-0 run before Young sunk a 3-pointer with 15:16 on the clock.
  • With Young’s 3-pointer as UK’s first score, the Wildcats have now hit at least one from long range in 863 consecutive games. That streak is the third-longest in the nation.
  • The Spartans went into halftime ahead 44-32. It marked the first halftime deficit of the season for the Cats.

Second-Half Story

  • Kentucky opened the second half on an 8-2 run behind six quick points by Randle to pull to within six at 46-40 with 17:47 remaining. Michigan State responded with four in a row to stretch the lead back to 10 at 50-40 in less than a minute.
  • Behind the play of Randle’s 15 second-half points to that point and a 13-1 Wildcat run, the Blue and White pulled to within one at 60-59 with 8:03 with a runner from .
  • The first tie of the game since 0-0 came after Randle sunk two free throws with 3:14 remaining at 66, but Michigan State quickly scored five-straight to retake the lead.

Individual Notes

  • Julius Randle scored 27 points and logged 13 rebounds.
    • He has reached the 20-point, 10-rebound plateau in every game this season.
    • Randle is the first UK player to have three-consecutive games with double-doubles since Nerlens Noelin Feb. 2013.
    • Attempted 15 free throws and has notched 10 or more in every game this season.
    • 27 points is a career high for Randle.
  • James Young has connected on at least one 3-pointer in each of UK’s first three games.
    • Scored a season and career-high 19 points.
  • Andrew Harrison has dished out at least two assists in all three contests this season.
    • With 11 points, Harrison has scored double figures in back-to-back games.
  •  swatted away a career-high three blocks and added a career-high 12 rebounds. It is the second double-figure rebounding effort of the year for Poythress.
    • UK is 3-1 when Poythress has 10 or more boards including 1-1 this season

Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter’s Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.

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