Dec. 15, 2001

Recap?|?Box Score?|?Quotes?|?Photo Gallery

Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky improves to 6-1 on the season, KSU falls to 2-4. Kentucky now leads the series 1-0. It’s the Wildcats’ best start since the 1998-99 season.

It was the most points scored by a Tubby Smith-led Kentucky team and the most points by the Wildcats since Feb. 7, 1996, a 120-81 win at Vanderbilt. It was the largest margin of victory by the Cats since Nov. 26, 1994, a 124-50 win over UT-Martin.

It was UK’s 42nd 100-point game in Rupp Arena.

Kentucky’s 49 made field goals sets a Rupp Arena record. The Cats had previously recorded 47 FGs against UT-Martin, Nov. 26, 1994.

Kentucky shot a season-high 59.8 percent from the field. UK also had season highs in rebounds (51), assists (32), steals (19), made FGs (49), opponent turnovers (28) and points in a half (63, 2nd H).

Marquis Estill led five players in double figures with 21 points. The last time UK had five players reach the double-digit mark was Feb. 28, 2001 vs. Auburn.

Gerald Fitch was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, the first 100% performance of his career.

Tayshaun Prince’s 18 points gave him his sixth double-figure performance of the season and his fifth consecutive. In the last two games, he’s shot 19 of 31 from the field, including 8 of 13 from three-point range.

Several Wildcats set career highs in the game, including:

– Chuck Hayes – 9 points

– Josh Carrier – 6 points

– Cliff Hawkins – 8 assists

– Rashaad Carruth – 2 rebounds

– Erik Daniels – 11 FGAs

Matching career highs in the game were:

– Keith Bogans – 6 assists, 4 steals

– Marquis Estill – 9 FGs, 11 FGAs

– Cory Sears – 2 points

– Gerald Fitch – 5 assists

– Erik Daniels – 6 rebounds

Kentucky will next be in action against No. 1 Duke on Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at the Meadowlands.