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- Kentucky is now 13-3 on the season, 3-1 in Southeastern Conference action. Mississippi State is 7-8 overall, 0-3 in league play.
- Kentucky leads the all-time series 93-20 and has won nine in a row.
- Next for the Wildcats: Kentucky plays at Auburn on Saturday at 4 p.m., televised by ESPN.
In the First Half
- Kentucky started with the lineup of Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe, Jamal Murray, Alex Poythress and Marcus Lee for the fourth game in a row.
- Mississippi State led 5-0 early. With the game tied at 10, Kentucky went ahead for good with a 13-0 run, and although the Wildcats never trailed again, the game stayed competitive.
- The Bulldogs bit back with a 9-0 spurt and eventually closed within two points at 27-25.
- Kentucky kept the visitors at bay and went to halftime ahead 39-31. UK made six 3-pointers in the opening period, most in a first half this season.
In the Second Half
- After Mississippi State scored the first basket of the second half, Kentucky went on a 14-0 run to give the Wildcats their largest lead at 53-33.
- Still trailing by 17 (65-48) with 8:47 to play, the Bulldogs rallied and closed within three (74-71) with 1:14 remaining.
- Kentucky made six straight foul shots in the final minute to preserve the victory.
- Poythress claimed an offensive rebound, was fouled, and made two foul shots with 48 seconds left.
- MSU’s Fred Thomas banked one home with 37 seconds to go to make it 76-73.
- Ulis went to the line and got a friendly roll and a friendly bounce with 35 seconds left, making it 78-73.
- With 26.2 to play, the Bulldogs’ I.J. Ready made the first of two to make it 78-74.
- With 19.7 on the clock, Poythress made two foul shots and UK on for an 80-74 win.
Team Notes
- With 2,191 all-time wins, Kentucky is the nation’s leader in that category.
- UK extended its streak of 30 straight wins in Rupp Arena.
- Kentucky shot 50.9 percent from the field, the eighth time this season the Wildcats have made at least half their shots in a game.
- Kentucky won the rebounding battle 33-20, leading to an 11-4 advantage in second-chance points.
- Mississippi State shot 52.9 percent from the field. UK had held the previous 55 home opponents under 50 percent from the field.
- Kentucky extended its streak of 955 consecutive games with at least one 3-point basket.
- UK has had a player score at least 20 points in all four SEC games this season. The last time UK had a player score at least 20 in four straight SEC games was 2009.
- Coach John Calipari has a 648-181 (.782) all-time record, including a 203-41 (.832) mark at Kentucky. Calipari is 112-4 (.966) in Rupp Arena.
Player Notes
- Freshman Jamal Murray had a game-high 22 points, his 13th consecutive double-figure game.
- This was his third-consecutive 20-point game, fifth overall.
- He has made at least one 3-point shot in every game this season, the first player in program history to make a triple in each of his first 16 collegiate games.
- Sophomore Tyler Ulis rang up 21 points, the fourth time in the last five games he had 20 or more.
- An 85 percent foul shooter on the season, Ulis made all five of his attempts tonight.
- Ulis had five assists. He has had at least four assists in nine straight games, first Wildcat to do so since Marquis Teague in 2012.
- Freshman Isaiah Briscoe had 14 points, making 7 of 9 shots. He has made 13 of 19 shots (68.4 percent) in the last two games.
- Junior Marcus Lee had two points and a game-high nine rebounds. After making 1 of 2 field goals tonight, Lee has made 37 of 52 (.712) shots in the last 10 games.
- Senior Alex Poythress had six points and eight rebounds, hitting four clutch foul shots in the final minute.
- In only 11 minutes of action, junior Derek Willis had eight points, making both of his 3-point tries and both foul shots, adding an assist, steal and blocked shot.
