Men's Basketball

Dec. 21, 2009

Recap | Box Score | Quotes | AP Photo Gallery media-icon-photogallery.gif | Photo Gallery media-icon-photogallery.gif | Postgame Celebration media-icon-photogallery.gif

The University of Kentucky is the first team in college basketball history to reach 2,000 wins.

Team Records and Series Notes

  • Kentucky is 12-0 while Drexel is 6-6.
  • Kentucky’s 12-0 start is its best since the 1983-84 squad that opened with 12 consecutive wins.
  • This is the eighth time in school history that the Wildcats have begun a season with at least 12 straight wins.
  • John Calipari is the only coach to begin his Kentucky career with 12 wins in a row. Adolph Rupp opened his UK career by winning his first 10 games in the 1930-31 season.
  • This is the 11 th time in John Calipari’s collegiate coaching career that he has had a winning streak of at least 12 games.
  • Kentucky’s all-time record is 2,000-635-1, a winning percentage of .759.
  • This was Kentucky’s first men’s basketball game against Drexel. The Wildcats defeated two other “first-time” opponents this season, Sam Houston State and Cleveland State. Upcoming opponents Long Beach State and Hartford are also first-time foes.
  • The Wildcats are 5-0 against members of the Colonial Athletic Association.
  • Kentucky returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 23, against Long Beach State. Game time is 1 p.m. and it will be telecast on Fox Sports South.

First-Half Notes

  • Kentucky used the starting lineup of John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, Darius Miller, Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins for the 11 th consecutive game.
  • Kentucky scored on its first seven possessions en route to a 15-3 lead. Cousins got eight quick points by scoring on four of the first five Wildcat possessions.
  • UK continued its blazing start and built a 28-7 advantage at the 12:19 mark.
  • Ahead 35-16, UK put on an 11-0 run for a 46-16 lead.
  • The Wildcats stretched the lead to 36 points at halftime, 56-20. It is Kentucky’s largest halftime margin of the season.

Second-Half Notes

  • The Wildcats had another strong start, tallying the first 10 points for a 66-20 advantage.
  • Kentucky extended its consecutive free-throws made streak to 31 before a miss at the 14:33 mark.
  • UK enlarged the lead to as many as 51 at 80-29.

Team Notes

  • Kentucky shot 53.4 percent from the field, making 31 of 58 shots. It’s the eighth time this season the Wildcats have made at least half their shots in one game.
  • UK made 9 of 13 three-pointers, a season-high percentage of 69.2.
  • The Wildcats dominated around the basket, winning the rebounding 45-22 and points in the paint 38-14.
  • Kentucky extended its consecutive free throws to 31 until a miss in the second half.
  • UK limited Drexel to 30.9 percent from the field. It’s the second-best defensive performance of the season.

Individual Notes

  • DeMarcus Cousins totaled 18 points and 13 rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.

    • It is his fifth double-double of the season.
    • Cousins has made all 13 foul shot attempts over the last two games. Prior to this stretch, he had made just 54.1 percent of his free throws (33 of 61).
  • Patrick Patterson also tied for game-high honors with 18 points.
  • John Wall scored 16 and has hit double figures in every game this season. He also added a game-high seven assists.
  • DeAndre Liggins knocked home a pair of 3-pointers, the fourth time in his career he has hit two long-rangers in one game.
  • Ramon Harris notched a season-high nine points.
  • Freshman Jon Hood scored five points, his season high.
  • Josh Harrellson had five points and three rebounds, tying his season bests in both categories.

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