Kentucky blows out Auburn behind incredible second-half performance plus Boxscore and Other Game Notes

 

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KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY

FEB. 25, 2023
ATTENDANCE: 20,353

Final Score: Kentucky 86, Auburn 54

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky won its fourth in a row – tying a season-long win streak for the third time this season – and the Wildcats are 20-9 overall and 11-5 in the Southeastern Conference.
• Kentucky has tied at least a tie for fourth place in the league standings but, as this was written, has not clinched a Friday double-bye at the SEC Tournament. 
• Auburn is 19-10 overall, 9-7 in the league.
• Kentucky leads the series 97-23.
• UK leads 51-2 in games played in Lexington and has won the last 20 vs. the Tigers in Rupp Arena.
• Next for the Wildcats: Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Senior Night game will be televised on the SEC Network.  

Team Notes

• Kentucky limited Auburn to 54 points. UK is 88-0 under John Calipari, including 5-0 this season, when keeping the opponent to 55 points or fewer.
• Auburn shot 33.9% from the field. UK is 231-24 (90.6%) under Calipari when the opponent shoots 40% or less from the field.
• UK won the rebounding 41-23, leading to a 14-7 advantage in second-chance points.
  • UK is 20-4 this season when winning the rebounding and 13-0 when winning the rebounding by double digits. 
• Kentucky’s 10 steals are the most since 10 thefts at Gonzaga on November 20.
• Kentucky’s 86 points is a season high in an SEC game.
• Kentucky shot 56.1% from the field today, the 10^th time this season and second game in a row that the Wildcats have made at least half their shots. 
• Kentucky shot a season-high 61.5% on 3-pointers, 8 of 13.
  • UK is 13-0 this season when making at least 36% from long range.
• Kentucky made 14 of 15 free throws, a season-high 93.3 percent. 
• This was the second game in a row that UK had two double-doubles – Toppin and Tshiebwe today and Toppin and Livingston at Florida. 
• Kentucky led by as many as 40 points today, marking the third-largest lead in any game this season. The Wildcats are 327-13 (96.2%) under John Calipari when leading by at least 10 points at some point during the game. 

Player Notes  

• Oscar Tshiebwe collected 22 points and 17 rebounds.
  • This is his 16^th double-double of the season and 44^th in 61 games at Kentucky.
  • His 44^th double-double moved him past Jim Andrews for third place in UK history in that category.
  • It is his fifth 20-15 game of the season, 12^th as a Wildcat.
  • He has made 20 of 23 shots from the field in the last two games, 87 percent.
  • He made all six free throws, tying his best perfect performance as a Wildcat, also made 6 of 6 vs. Gonzaga and Florida A&M.
• Jacob Toppin had 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
  • It is his seventh double-double of the season and first time he has done it back-to-back games.
  • It is his 12^th-straight game with double-figure scoring and 14^th in the last 16.
  • He has made 7 of 10 on 3-point shots in the last five games.
  • He also had a season-high-tying five assists, only one short of his career high.
• Antonio Reeves tossed in 21 points – 18 in the second half – his seventh 20-point game of the season.
  • He has made 15 of 31 on 3-point shots in the last five games.
  • He has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 15 games.
• Cason Wallace almost had a double-double with 19 points and nine assists.
  • 19 points are his most since 24 vs. Arkansas on Feb. 7.
  • It is his sixth game in a row with at least five assists and nine assists matches his second-most of the season.
• After missing four games because of a rib injury, CJ Fredrick returned to action and played seven minutes.   

 Coach John Calipari

• This is Kentucky’s 13^th 20-win season in 14 seasons under John Calipari.
• Calipari is 14-6 vs. Auburn, all coming at Kentucky.
• Calipari has an 830-250 all-time on-court record and is 385-110 in 14 seasons at UK.
• UK is 316-62 (83.6%) against unranked competition under Calipari. 

 Rupp Arena

• Kentucky is 647-80 (89.0%) in the 47-year history of Rupp Arena.
• Kentucky is 220-20 (91.7%) in Rupp Arena under Calipari.

 In the First Half

• Kentucky starters were Cason Wallace, Antonio Reeves, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin and Oscar Tshiebwe for the fifth game in a row. UK is 4-1 with this lineup.
• Adou Thiero and CJ Fredrick were the first substitutes at the 12:33 mark.   
• The half was played evenly until the final 1:40, when a Toppin 3-pointer, a Wallace 3, and two Tshiebwe foul shots ended the half on an 8-0 run to take a 40-29 advantage into the locker room. 
• Tshiebwe got a double-double in the first half with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
• UK is now 17-0 this season when leading or tied at halftime.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky opened the second half with the starting lineup.
• After Auburn got the first basket, UK got an 9-0 spurt for a total run of 17-2, pushing the tally to 49-31. 
• UK led by as many as 40 points at 88-46.