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Kentucky had eight assists and 16 turnovers plus boxscore and other game notes

Kentucky had eight assists and 16 turnovers, the fourth time that the Cats have had more miscues than assists.

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Team Records and Series Notes

  • Kentucky is now 1-5 and North Carolina is 5-2.
  • North Carolina leads the series 25-16.
    • North Carolina leads 13-6 in games played at neutral sites.
  • Kentucky is 3-4 in the CBS Sports Classic, including 2-1 vs. North Carolina.
  • Next: on Saturday, Dec. 26, Kentucky travels to Louisville to take on the in-state rival Cardinals. Game time is noon and it will be televised on ESPN2.

Player Notes 

  • , a North Carolina native, led the Wildcats with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and eight rebounds, all of which are season highs for his time at Kentucky.
  • Jr. totaled 15 points and seven rebounds. He has scored in double figures in all six games of the season.
  • tallied 12 points, matching his season high set vs. Morehead State, and led the Wildcats in assists with three.
  • played his best game as a Wildcat with four points and seven rebounds.

Coach

  • Calipari is now 331-82 at .
  • Calipari has a 776-222 all-time on-court record.
  • UK is 63-35 under Calipari against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
  • Kentucky is 55-17 under Calipari following a loss.

Team Notes

  • UK has lost five in a row for the first time since Dec. 23, 1989 – Jan. 6, 1990.
  • Kentucky has started 1-5 for the first time since the 1926-27 team opened 1-8.
  • This is the third of four straight games against opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference. UK is 58-44 all-time against teams comprising the ACC.
  • Kentucky is 5-2 in games played in Cleveland.
  • UK won the rebounding battle 42-38, the fourth time in six games that the Wildcats have led the boardwork.
  • Kentucky had eight assists and 16 turnovers, the fourth time that the Cats have had more miscues than assists.
  • Four Wildcats fouled out, the first time that has happened since Jan. 30, 2016, at Kansas.

In the First Half

  • The starting lineup consisted of Davion Mintz, Brandon Boston Jr., , and senior , for the second straight game.
    • After two early fouls by Jackson, Lance Ware was UK's first substitute at the 17:02 mark.
  • Kentucky got the opening tip and scored on the first two possessions for a 4-0 lead.
  • Tied at 4, Mintz made the game's first 3-pointer at the 16:35 mark. It was the first of three 3-points in a three-minute span for Mintz as UK lengthened its lead to 19-8.
  • North Carolina responded with a 9-0 run to pull within 19-17.
  • UNC took its first lead, 27-25, with a 3-pointer with 4:53 remaining.
  • Trailing 29-27 with four minutes left, UK closed the half with an 11-5 run to go ahead 38-34.
    • Kentucky is 1-3 this season when leading at intermission.

In the Second Half

  • The starting lineup opened the second half.
  • UK built a 48-42 lead but then went more than nine minutes without a basket.
  • North Carolina came back with a 12-1 run, making it 54-49, and the Tar Heels never trailed again.
  • UK edged within two at 56-54, but Ware, Jackson, Sarr and Clarke fouled out and the Wildcats got no closer.
  • ended the field-goal drought with a 3-pointer with four minutes left, pulling within 62-57.

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