Nov. 25, 2014

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Devin Booker scored 19 points for his second career best in as many games, Karl-Anthony Towns added 13 with 11 rebounds, and No. 1 Kentucky had no trouble with Texas-Arlington in Tuesday night’s 92-44 blowout.

The Wildcats (6-0) concluded a busy season-opening stretch of six games in 11 days with a complete effort on both ends. Besides shooting 57 percent from the field (30 of 53), Kentucky held the Mavericks (3-2) to 27 percent shooting.

Second-platoon guard Booker followed Sunday’s 18-point effort by hitting 7 of 8 shots, including five 3-pointers. Towns added three blocks and four assists for Kentucky, which led 55-12 at halftime and rarely let UTA get within 40 points afterward in ending the Mavericks’ two-game winning streak.

Dakari Johnson scored all 12 points on free throws, twin guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison each had 11 points and
Trey Lyles 10 for the Wildcats.

Lonnie McClanahan’s 10 points off the bench led Texas-Arlington, the latest school to be overwhelmed by Kentucky’s two platoons of length, speed and depth. The Mavericks’ only consolations were topping them in steals (8-6) and leading 3-2 on Kevin Hervey’s perimeter jumper.

The Mavs trailed 8-5 after five minutes before Kentucky got rolling behind balance in which no Wildcat played more than 21 minutes.

After drubbing Montana State by 58 points on Sunday thanks to swarming defense, the Wildcats held Texas-Arlington to 4-of-32 shooting through 20 minutes and closed on a 42-5 run for a 55-12 lead at the break. Brandon Williams’ layup with 7:12 remaining made it 27-12 and marked the Mavericks’ last basket of the half.

Kentucky meanwhile quickly warmed up from a 1-for-7 start from the field, making 18 of its final 24 attempts of the half. Willie Cauley-Stein got off to a good start with eight points before his teammates joined in for two big runs, starting with a 25-7 spurt over 8:07 for a 33-12 lead.

Booker picked up where he left off Sunday by making four 3-pointers in the half. Aaron Harrison added a pair from behind the arc as well as Kentucky scored the final 28 points of the half.