UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY at AUBURN
AUBURN ARENA | AUBURN, ALA.
JAN. 22, 2022
ATTENDANCE: 9,121

Final Score: No. 2/2 Auburn 80, No. 12/12 Kentucky 71
 
Team Records, Series Notes, Etc.

• Kentucky ended a four-game winning streak and is now 15-4 on the season and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
• Auburn has a 15-game winning streak and is 18-1 overall, 7-0 in the conference.
• Today’s game marked the third of five consecutive games for Kentucky against teams that had a combined record of 64-13 when the stretch began Jan. 15.

• The Wildcats lead the series, 96-23, including 31-18 at Auburn.  However, Auburn has won the last three matchups held in Auburn Arena.
• Next for Kentucky: UK returns home to host Mississippi State on Tuesday. Game time is 9 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPN.  

 
Team Notes

• Kentucky shot 50% percent from the field today, 29 of 58, and the Wildcats are now 9-1 this season when making at least half their shots in a game.
• Auburn shot 56.8% percent from the field (25 of 44), the highest percentage by a UK opponent this season.
• UK led by 10 points in the first half.  UK is 300-13 under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points during the game, including 14-1 this season.
• Kentucky was outrebounded, 27-26. The Wildcats are 0-3 this season when losing or tying the boardwork.
• Auburn’s work at the foul line was a difference-maker as the Tigers made 24 of 29.  The Wildcats shot well at the charity stripe but got to the line only 10 times, making eight.

 
Player Notes  

• Sahvir Wheeler scored 17 points, the second game in a row he led the team in scoring, and chipped in four assists.
• Making 4 of 7 on 3-pointers, Kellan Grady tied for UK scoring honors with 17 points. 
  • Over the last 10 games he is averaging 14.1 points per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the field (47 of 97), including 46.1 percent (35 of 76) from 3-point range.
  • It is the seventh time this season he has made at least four 3-pointers in a game.

• Oscar Tshiebwe totaled 16 points and 14 rebounds.

  • It is his 13^th double-double of the season, ranking third in the nation in that category.
  • The nation’s leading rebounder has grabbed double-figure boards in all but two games this season.
• TyTy Washington Jr. incurred an ankle injury at the 8:20 mark of the first half and did not return. He totaled four points and one assist in nine minutes of action.

 
Coach Calipari

• John Calipari is now 354-97 at UK.
• Calipari remains one win short of No. 800 and has a 799-237 all-time on-court record. 
• Since 2005-06, Calipari is 114-56 on the road at UK and Memphis.
• UK is 65-41 vs. Associated Press ranked competition under Calipari, including 1-3 vs. teams ranked No. 2.  
• Calipari is now 13-6 vs. Auburn, all at Kentucky.
• Calipari has tallied a 372-118 all-time record within conference play as a head coach and owns a 164-52 record since joining the SEC.

 
In the First Half

• The starting lineup featured Sahvir Wheeler, TyTy Washington Jr., Kellan Grady, Keion Brooks Jr. and Oscar Tshiebwe for the third consecutive game. UK is now 12-4 with that starting lineup this season.
• Trailing 7-4, Kentucky went on a 13-0 spurt for a 17-7 lead.
• Jacob Toppin was UK’s first substitute at the 13:33 mark but picked up two quick fouls.
• UK got six steals in the first 11 minutes of the game, leading to 13 points off turnovers and a 23-16 lead.
• Auburn’s Walker Kessler got a pair of dunks in the final minute, narrowing UK’s lead to 33-29 at halftime. UK is 14-2 this season when leading at intermission.
• UK won points off turnovers 15-5 and fast-break points 11-0 in the opening period.
• Wheeler had eight points and Grady seven in the first half, while Tshiebwe had six points and eight rebounds.

 
In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with Wheeler, Davion Mintz, Grady, Brooks and Tshiebwe.
• With UK ahead 38-33, Auburn went on a 12-2 run to reclaim for a 45-40 advantage, their first lead since early in the game.
• UK fought back to tie at 45 but a pair of 3-pointers by Wendell Green Jr. sparked an 11-2 spurt to put the Tigers ahead for good. 
• Wheeler returned at 8:41. 
• Auburn lengthened their largest lead to 64-52, all totaled a 31-14 run since trailing by five points early in the half.
• Kentucky kept scrapping and a Grady 3-pointer with 3:10 to go cut the lead to 68-64 but the Wildcats got no closer. 
• Grady and Tshiebwe led the second-half scoring with 10 points each in the final stanza.