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Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky at Auburn

Boxscore and game notes from Kentucky at Auburn

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  • is now 13-4 on the season, 3-2 in Southeastern Conference action. is 8-8 overall, 2-3 in league play.
  • Kentucky leads the all-time series 91-18 but saw an 18-game winning streak against the Tigers end today.
  • Next for the Wildcats: visits the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. EST.

In the First Half

  • Kentucky started with the lineup of , , Jamal Murray, and for the fifth game in a row.
  • Murray made a 3-pointer on the game's opening possession, extending UK's streak of 956 consecutive games making a three. It was the first time all season UK opened with a 3-pointer on its opening possession.
  • An evenly played first half saw neither team lead by more than five points.
  • Tied at 30, Kentucky got the last two baskets of the half on a dunk by and a 3-pointer by Derek Willis, giving the Wildcats a 35-30 advantage at intermission. Willis had seven points and a career-high eight rebounds in the first half.

In the Second Half

  • Having scored the last five points of the first half, UK extended its run with three foul shots by Ulis and a jumper by Murray to give UK a 40-30 lead. At the 15:41 mark, UK extended its largest edge to 12 points at 47-35.
  • At that point, Auburn stormed back with a 21-4 run, giving the Tigers a 56-51 lead.
  • UK responded with a 6-0 surge and went back ahead 57-56.
  • With UK ahead 67-65, Auburn scored nine straight points to go ahead 74-67 and the Tigers held on for the victory.

Team Notes

  • Kentucky extended its streak of 956 consecutive games with at least one 3-point basket.
  • UK won rebounding, 48-38, and points in the paint, 32-16.
  • UK has had a player score at least 20 points in all five games this season. The last time UK had a player score at least 20 in the first five SEC games was 2009.
  • Coach has a 648-182 (.781) all-time record, including a 203-42 (.829) mark at Kentucky.

 Player Notes

  • Freshman Jamal Murray had 20 points, his 15th consecutive double-figure game.
    • This was his fourth-consecutive 20-point game, sixth overall.
    • He is the first player and first freshman with four-consecutive 20-point efforts since Alex Poythress achieved the feat during from Nov. 13-Nov. 23, 2012.
    • 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.
    • He totaled three steals in today's game, the most since swiping four against No. 5/4 Duke on Nov. 17.
  • Sophomore Tyler Ulis had 17 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and eight assists.
    • It is the second double-double of his career.
    • He is the first player to have a double-double in points and rebounds and points and assists in the same season since John Wall turned the trick during the 2009-10 season.
    • He was two assists shy of the second-ever triple-double in school history.
  • Junior Derek Willis had 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, his first career double-double.
    • He is the fifth different Wildcat to produce a double-double this season.
    • Willis hauled in eight rebounds in the opening half, bettering his career best in rebounds which previously was six which he did against UCLA earlier this season.
    • He extended his free-throw streak to 20 consecutive makes.

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