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Isaiah Jackson scored Kentucky’s first points of the season plus boxscore and other game notes

Isaiah Jackson got the first points of Kentucky’s season with a jump shot and tallied seven points, plus a blocked shot.

Go here for boxscore.

Team Records and Series Notes

  • This was the season opener for both teams.
  • Now in its 119th season of men’s basketball, Kentucky is 98-20 in season openers (no season in 1952-53).
  • Kentucky leads the series 11-0, including 9-0 in Lexington.
  • Next: Kentucky hosts Richmond on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the finale of the Bluegrass Showcase. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Player Notes 

  • Other than walk-ons Brennan Canada and Riley Welch, every other Wildcat appearing tonight made his first game appearance for Kentucky.
  • Brandon Boston Jr. had game highs with 15 points and seven rebounds, earning a team-best 32 minutes.
  • Devin Askew and Terrence Clarke each had 12 points and paced UK in assists with four. Clarke also had a game-high three steals.
  • Davion Mintz tallied 10 points and had a good shooting night with a 2-of-3 performance from long range and all four free throws.
  • Isaiah Jackson and Cam’Ron Fletcher each scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting.
    • Jackson also swatted a team-high-tying two shots.
  • Olivier Sarr had eight points on 4-of-6 shooting with a team-high-tying two blocks.

Coach John Calipari

  • Beginning his 12th season in Lexington, Calipari is now 331-77 at UK.
  • Beginning his 29th season as a head coach, he has a 776-217 all-time on-court record.
  • UK is 268-44 vs. Associated Press unranked foes under Calipari.
  • UK is 11-1 in season openers under Calipari and 12-0 in home openers.

Team Notes

  • Kentucky limited Morehead State to 45 points. The Wildcats are 78-0 under Calipari when keeping the opponent to 55 or fewer points.
    • It’s the fewest points by a UK opponent since a 79-44 win over Abilene Christian in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
    • It’s the fewest points allowed in a season opener since an 85-45 win over Grand Canyon in 2014-15.
  • Morehead shot 34% from the field. UK is 203-19 (.914) under Calipari when keeping the opponent to 40% or less.
  • Four Wildcats scored in double figures and seven had at least eight points.
  • Kentucky led by as many as 39 points during the game. UK is 282-8 (.972) under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points at any time in the contest.

In the First Half

  • The starting lineup consisted of freshmen Devin Askew, Brandon Boston Jr., Terrence Clarke and Isaiah Jackson, along with senior transfer Olivier Sarr.
    • Davion Mintz and Lance Ware were UK’s first substitutes at the 14:35 mark.
  • Kentucky never trailed, although there was a tie at 2-2.
  • Jackson got the first points of the season with a jump shot and tallied seven points, plus a blocked shot, in the first 6:09 of the game before exiting with his second foul.
  • Mintz made the first 3-pointer of the season at 12:53, giving UK its first double-digit lead of the season at 15-4.
  • Kentucky led by as many as 20 points at 43-23 before settling for a 45-26 lead at intermission. Clarke played the entire half and led the Cats with 10 points.

In the Second Half

  • Kentucky opened the second half with the original starting lineup.
  • The Wildcats lengthened the lead to as many as 39 points at 81-42.
Related Topics

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.

On This Day in UK Basketball History

On March 12, 1970, Dan Issel scored 44 points against Notre Dame.

 

On March 12, 1994, No. 10 Kentucky took down No. 1 Arkansas 78, in the 1994 SEC Tournament semifinals.  Kentucky made 16 three-pointers and placed five players in double figures led by Tony Delk (16 points) to stun the No. 1 team in the nation before 20,431 fans in The Pyramid in Memphis.  This is one of six all-time Kentucky wins over teams ranked No. 1 in the AP college basketball poll.

 

On March 12, 1995, Kentucky repeatedly clawed it's way back in the SEC Tournament final against Arkansas - finding itself trailing by 19 in the first half, 12 points with nine minutes left in the second half, and nine points with 1:33 remaining in overtime to win its 19th SEC Tournament championship by beating Arkansas 95-93.  Freshman Antoine Walker had 23 points as the Cats defeated the defending NCAA champions before 30,067 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

 

On March 12, 2020, out of safety precautions and concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 SEC Tournament is canceled. Hours later, all NCAA winter championships are canceled, including the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats' season, at 25-6 and regular season SEC champions, abruptly comes to an end.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

March 13, 1887

Ruric Roark

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