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Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky vs Ole Miss

Kentucky controlled the area around the basket tonight led by Willie Cauley-Stein’s six blocked shots and and Dakari Johnson’s four rejections.

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  • is 17-5, 7-2 in the Southeastern Conference.  Ole Miss is 15-7, 6-3 in league play.
  • Kentucky leads the series 101-13.  The Wildcats lead 51-2 in Lexington, including 36-1 in Rupp Arena.
  • The teams will have a rematch two weeks from tonight in Oxford.
  • Kentucky begins a two-game road swing Saturday at .  Game time is 1:30 p.m. EST (12:30 p.m. CST in Starkville) and it will be televised by TV.

 First-Half Facts

  • Kentucky started , , , and for the second-consecutive game. It’s the sixth time this season has opened with an all-freshman lineup and UK is 6-0 in those games.
  • Aaron Harrison canned a 3-pointer with 10 minutes to play in the first half, extending UK’s consecutive three streak to 882 games.
  • It was an evenly contested first half with neither team leading by more than five points. James Young’s foul shot with 51 seconds remaining sent UK into intermission with a 35-34 lead.  It proved to be an advantage that the Wildcats did not relinquish.

Second-Half Story   

  • Ahead 43-41, UK went on a 7-0 run for a 50-41 lead and the Rebels got no closer than seven after that.
  • The Wildcats gradually extended the lead to as many as 19 points at 80-61.

 Team Notes

  • Kentucky has won 22 consecutive home games, currently the nation’s fifth-longest active home streak.
    • UK has won 13 straight SEC home contests.
    • UK is 81-2 in Rupp Arena under Coach John Calipari.
  • Kentucky shot 51 percent from the field, the third time in the last four games the Cats have made at least half their shots.
  • Kentucky controlled the area around the basket tonight:
    • Led by ‘s six blocked shots and and Dakari Johnson’s four rejections, UK totaled a season-high 12 blocks.
    • UK won the rebounding 41-26.
    • UK won points in the paint 44-24.
  • Five Wildcats scored in double figures, first time that has occurred since the win over Texas-Arlington on Nov. 19.
  • UK made 26 of 36 tonight at the foul line.  Over the last six games the Wildcats have made 75 percent (108 of 144).

Individual Notes

  • Willie Cauley-Stein gave the Rebels his last full measure of devotion, leading the way with a season-high 18 points, making 7 of 8 from the field.  UK is 6-0 in his career when he scores 15 or more.
    • Cauley-Stein also had 11 rebounds, giving him his second double-double of the season and sixth of his career.
    • WCS added six blocked shots, two assists and a steal.
  • Aaron Harrison followed with 16 points. He is averaging 16.5 points per game over the last four games.  He claimed six rebounds, one shy of his career best.
  • Julius Randle notched 12 points, including 8 of 10 at the foul line.
  • James Young tallied 10 points, landing in double figures for the fifth-straight game.
  • Once again, Alex Poythress came off the bench to make a strong contribution. UK’s Feline of the Baseline totaled 10 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes of play.
  • Dakari Johnson made his second start, collecting five points and a career-best four blocked shots.

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