Kentucky-Mississippi State Postgame Notes

Jan. 8, 2014

Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

Kentucky is 11-3 overall and has won three in a row. Mississippi State is 10-4.
This was the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. UK is 63-19 all-time in SEC lid-lifters.
Kentucky leads the series 90-20 and has won six in a row vs. the Bulldogs.
UK leads the series 46-5 in Lexington, including 25-2 in Rupp Arena.
Coach John Calipari is 7-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.
Kentucky has its first SEC road game Saturday at Vanderbilt. Game time is 3:30 p.m. EST (2:30 p.m. CST in Nashville) and it will be televised by CBS with Kevin Harlan and Greg Anthony on the call.

Kentucky started Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, James Young, Julius Randle and Willie Cauley-Stein.
Mississippi State jumped out to a 12-2 lead, including a couple of 3-pointers by Colin Borchert. This is the third-straight game the opponent’s initial bucket has been a three against Kentucky.
Kentucky’s first basket came at 15:04 on a jumper by Dominique Hawkins. James Young canned UK’s first 3-pointer at 13:36.
Trailing 18-8, UK went on a 14-2 run. The Wildcats claimed their first lead, 22-20, on a pair of Hawkins foul shots at the 7:25 mark.
Behind 28-26, Mississippi State had an 8-0 spurt to open up a 34-28 advantage.
The Bulldogs led the rest of the half and took a 40-37 score into intermission.

Kentucky grabbed the lead back, 46-44, on a basket and free throw by Aaron Harrison.
Tied at 47, Kentucky’s 7-0 thrust gave the Wildcats a 54-47 lead.
Ahead 54-51, UK put the game away with a 20-2 surge to make it 74-53. Alex Poythress had four dunks during that run.
Kentucky dominated the second half, 48-23. UK shot 65.4 percent in the second stanza while limiting the visitors to 34.8 percent.

Kentucky has won 18 consecutive home games and is 77-2 in Rupp Arena under Coach Calipari.
Kentucky had a decisive edge around the basket today.
- UK led the rebounding 44-28 and won second-chance points 17-7.
- UK won points in the paint 46-36.

James Young tied career highs with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a career-best five assists.
- It was his second-consecutive double-double.
- UK had a +29 scoring margin while he was in the game.
Mississippi State fulfilled its commitment to keep the ball out of Julius Randle’s hands. He tied his season low with only seven field goal attempts but didn’t let that stop him from claiming a game-high 14 rebounds.
- It is his 10th double-figure rebounding effort of the season.
- Randle tallied eight points, the first game this season he hasn’t scored in double figures.
Three Cats were highly efficient in their shooting tonight …
- Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress each were 5 of 6 from the field while scoring 12 points.
- Dakari Johnson made all four of his shots while tallying eight points.

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