LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Freshman center Randolph Morris scored 17 points to lead seven Kentucky players in double figures, and the third-ranked Wildcats routed Mississippi State 94-78 Saturday night.
Kentucky (20-3, 11-1 Southeastern Conference) posted its highest point total of the season in a victory that extended its streak of 20-win seasons to 15 – 50th overall with at least 20 wins.
Kelenna Azubuike scored 15 points and Patrick Sparks added 14 points and made four 3-pointers for Kentucky, which has won 19 straight games following a loss. The Wildcats lost at South Carolina on Tuesday.
Mississippi State (18-8, 6-6) had its nine-game winning streak snapped.
Kentucky has a three-game lead over Florida in the SEC Eastern Division and a one-game lead over No. 16 Alabama in the overall SEC standings with four games remaining. Kentucky will host Auburn on Wednesday before visiting Alabama next Saturday.
Kentucky has won 21 straight games against SEC Western Division teams and is 42-4 all-time against Mississippi State in Lexington, including 21-1 at Rupp Arena.
The Wildcats, who looked lethargic during their last two games – a win over Georgia and the loss at South Carolina – came out energized against Mississippi State, pounding the ball inside to Morris, stepping into passing lanes and running at nearly every opportunity.
The Bulldogs managed to stay with Kentucky for awhile, even with standout forward Lawrence Roberts significantly limited – first by foul trouble, then injury – but their 23 turnovers eventually helped Kentucky pull away.
Kentucky had 16 steals, including eight by freshman guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo’s total matched the single-game school record held by Wayne Turner, who had eight against George Washington on Nov. 24, 1997.
Mississippi State shot 53 percent and outrebounded Kentucky by eight in the first half, but trailed 46-43 at halftime thanks in good part to 12 turnovers. The Bulldogs played the final 11:55 of the half without Roberts, who had three fouls.
The Wildcats scored the first 10 points of the second half, six on a pair of 3-pointers by Sparks, to go ahead 56-43.
The Bulldogs pulled within nine, but Roberts picked up his fourth foul with 14:40 left. Rondo finished a three-point play to start a 12-0 Kentucky run that made it 70-49 with 12:17 left, and the Wildcats eventually led by as many as 26 points.
Roberts, who entered the game second in the SEC in scoring and first in rebounding, finished with seven points and three rebounds. He got tangled up with Kentucky’s Ramel Bradley with 7:05 left and fell to the floor, clutching his right knee. Roberts did not return.
Shane Power and Ontario Harper led the Bulldogs with 14 points each.
Chuck Hayes scored 12 points for Kentucky, while walk-on junior Ravi Moss and Ramel Bradley each had 10 points. Moss, who hadn’t scored in double figures in his entire career, has done so in Kentucky’s last two games.
