Kentucky-UNC Asheville Postgame Notes

Nov. 8, 2013

Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

This was the season opener for both teams.
Kentucky leads the series 4-0, including 2-0 under Coach John Calipari.
Kentucky has an all-time record of 91-19 in season-opening games, including 5-0 under Coach Calipari.
Kentucky continues its season-opening homestand Sunday as UK hosts Northern Kentucky at 4 p.m. The game will be televised by affiliates of the Fox Sports Network, including Fox Sports South.

Kentucky started with the lineup of Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, James Young, Julius Randle and Willie Cauley-Stein.
Four freshmen have started in 135 games in Kentucky history, 96 of which have occurred under Coach Calipari.
After UNCA won the opening tip and committed a turnover, Andrew Harrison drove for a layup on UK’s first offensive possession of the season.
Tied at 13, Kentucky took the lead for good with a six-point possession:
- Andrew Harrison began the spurt with a free throw. He missed the second but Cauley-Stein grabbed the rebound and fed Alex Poythress for a dunk and a foul.
- Poythress missed the foul shot but Cauley-Stein again claimed the rebound, this time finding James Young for a 3-pointer.
Young then added a free throw and another 3-pointer to complete a 10-0 run and a 23-13 lead.
The Wildcats went into halftime ahead 40-31.

After Asheville closed within 41-34 to begin the second half, Kentucky went on a 10-2 run for a 51-36 lead.
The Wildcats led by double digits the remainder of the game and pulled away for an 89-57 win.

Kentucky dominated the inside game, winning rebounds 48-31, points in the paint 50-32 and second-chance points 25-6.
Five Wildcats scored in double figures. The last time that happened was Feb. 27, 2013 vs. Mississippi State.
UK forced three shot-clock violations during the game after having only six all of last season.
A Kentucky player has notched a double-double in 9 of the last 10 season openers, including tonight.
Kentucky has made a three-point shot in 861 consecutive games.

After getting double-doubles in the two exhibition games, Julius Randle notched a double-double in his first official collegiate action with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
- Randle was two shy of UK first-game records in both categories. Terrence Jones had 25 points in his first collegiate game and Sam Bowie had 17 rebounds in his career lidlifter.
Alex Poythress also got a double-double tonight with 10 points and a career-high 13 boards.
- It was his second career double-double. The other came last season with 20 and 12 in a win over LSU.
- UK is now 6-0 in Poythress’ career when he gets nine or more rebounds.

Marcus Lee came off the bench to get 17 points in his collegiate debut.

James Young had 11 points, seven of which came in the key 10-0 run early in the game.

Willie Cauley-Stein had a fine floor game tonight with a career-high-tying four assists, four blocked shots and had a career-high-tying three steals.

Aaron Harrison had 10 points, five rebounds and a game-high four steals.

Andrew Harrison had eight points and a game-best five assists.

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