Dec. 10, 2014
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- Kentucky is 10-0 and Columbia is 5-3.
- Kentucky leads the series 2-0.
- Kentucky is 188-27 all-time when ranked No. 1 and has won 28 of the last 30 games as The Associated Press top-ranked team.
- Coach John Calipari has led three teams to a No. 1 ranking (Massachusetts, Memphis, Kentucky) and has a 72-9 record as the top-ranked coach, including 31-4 at UK.
- Kentucky returns to action Saturday at home against North Carolina. Game time is noon and it will be televised on CBS.
First-Half Facts
- Kentucky’s opening lineup featured Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Alex Poythress, Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein for the eighth time this season.
- The Lions roared first with the game’s first 11 points, marking UK’s largest deficit of the season.
- Kentucky got on the board at the 14:55 mark on a driving layup and foul shot by Aaron Harrison.
- UK gradually narrowed the deficit, but thanks to five Columbia 3-pointers in the opening period, the Lions went to halftime ahead 25-23. It is UK’s lowest scoring half of the season.
Second-Half Story
- Kentucky started the second half with the same lineup that began the game.
- The Wildcats tied the game at 25, 27 and 34 before taking their first lead of the game, 36-34, on a pair of Derek Willis foul shots with 13:18 remaining. UK never trailed again.
- Ahead 38-37, Kentucky got three consecutive dunks or layups, a 6-0 spurt that gave the Cats a 44-37 cushion.
- UK’s lead grew to as many as 15 points at 56-41.
Team Notes
- Columbia was limited to 37.5 percent from the field. UK entered the game holding opponents to just 27.9 percent from the field, leading the nation in that category.
- Kentucky has held all 10 opponents under 40 percent shooting.
- Columbia’s 46 points is a season low for the Lions. Nine of UK’s 10 opponents (all except Boston) have scored their season low against the Wildcats.
- Kentucky had a season-low four turnovers. Kentucky’s last turnover came at 13:52 in the first half.
- Key stat for Kentucky was points in the paint, as UK held a 30-20 advantage.
- UK led bench points 18-11 and has won bench points every game this season.
- Kentucky is now 47-0 under Coach Calipari when holding its opponent to 55 or fewer points, including the last six in a row and nine of 10 games this season.
Player Notes
- Aaron Harrison led the Wildcats with 14 points, his fourth double-figure game of the season.
- Trey Lyles seven points and 10 rebounds, his second consecutive game with double-figure boards.
- Willie Cauley-Stein notched 10 points and 10 rebounds, his second double-double in the last three games. It’s also his fourth straight game in double-figure scoring.