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Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky at Vanderbilt

Kentucky improves to 12-3, and 2-0 in Southeastern Conference action. Vanderbilt drops to 8-6 overall and 0-2 in league play.

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  • improves to 12-3, and 2-0 in Southeastern Conference action. drops to 8-6 overall and 0-2 in league play.
  • With the win, Kentucky now leads the series 139-46 including a 55-27 mark in Nashville.
  • Kentucky will return to the hardwood Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Arkansas. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
  • ‘s all-time record against SEC foes stands improves to 913-256 and 64-19 under .
  • Today’s attendance was 14,316.

First-Half Facts

  • Kentucky started with the lineup of sophomore and freshmen , , Julius Randle and James Young. That lineup improves to 8-3 on the year. UK has used that starting five in each of its last eight games.
  • and were the first subs off the bench marking the seventh and fifth time respectively they have entered the game first.
  • UK took its first lead of the game at the 15:33 mark after a pair of free throws from Aaron Harrison to make the score 6-4.
  • Andrew Harrison connected on a 3-pointer at the 10:30 minute mark to push UK’s run to 9-0 and gave Kentucky a 15-6 score advantage. Kentucky held the lead for the remaining of the opening stanza taking a 30-22 advantage into the break.

Second-Half Story   

  • Kentucky took a nine-point lead at 36-27 to open the second frame, but the Commodores used a 4-0 spurt to pull to within 36-31 at the 16:11 mark forcing UK into a timeout.
  • Following an Alex Poythress dunk at the 5:37 mark to give UK a 60-47 lead. Kentucky was charged with a technical foul for its second delay of game for the contest. Vanderbilt made both free throws and then hit a 3-pointer on its return possession to pull back to within eight at 60-52.
  • A Vanderbilt 3-pointer cut UK’s lead to just seven at the 1:59 mark. James Young grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed 1-and-1 and the possession ended on a Cauley-Stein dunk. Kentucky held at least a seven-point advantage the rest of the way.

Team Notes

  • Kentucky led 30-22 at halftime and is now 9-1 on the year when leading at the break.
  • UK which ranks third nationally extended its 3-point streak to 875 consecutive games, while Vanderbilt which ranks second nationally has hit at least one triple in 878 successive games.
  • UK’s all-time record in the month of January moves to 579-195 and 28-5 under Calipari.
  • The Wildcats are now 16-3 all-time as the Associated Press’ No. 14 rated squad and 3-0 under Calipari.
  • The Cats have registered 40 or more rebounds in 13 games this season including hauling in 41 today.
  • Kentucky had seven steals in today’s contest just two shy of a season-best.

Individual Notes

  • Willie Cauley-Stein finished with a team-high 15 points and six rebounds.
    • Has reached double-figure scoring in each of UK’s two SEC games.
    • Had a block and a pair of steals. Has registered at least one block in all but one game this season.
  • Aaron Harrison poured in 14 points and added four rebounds and a pair of assists.
    • Has notched 13 double-figure scoring efforts on the season.
  • Andrew Harrison logged 10 points, eight rebounds and a team-high four assists.
    • Has hit at least one 3-pointer in two-straight games.
    • The eight boards matched a career-high, he also had eight against Robert Morris.
    • Recorded his eighth-career double-figure scoring game.
    • Dished out four assists and has six career outings with four or more dimes.
  • totaled six points to go along with a rebound and an assist in 14 minutes of action.
    • Made both of his 3-point attempts in the opening half pushing his start to the season from long range to a perfect 3-for-3 before missing on his next attempt in the second stanza.
  • Julius Randle finished with seven points and a squad-best 11 rebounds.
    • Hauled in all of his 11 rebounds in the opening half.
    • He’s logged double-figure boards in 11 games this season including both against league foes.
  • Derek Willis registered his first career steal.
  • James Young scored six points and dished out four assists.
    • Has connected on at least one 3-pointer in 13 games this season including each of the last three.
    • Has nine assists in SEC games.

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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