Men's Basketball
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KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES 
KENTUCKY vs. UTAH 
T-MOBILE ARENA | LAS VEGAS  
DEC. 18, 2019 
ATTENDANCE: 5,507
 
Final Score: Utah 69, No. 6/6 Kentucky 66
 
Team Records and Series Notes 

  • Kentucky falls to 8-2 on the season and had its six-game winning streak come to an end. Utah improved to to 9-2 on the season.
  • Despite the loss, UK still leads the series 10-3.
    • Utah’s win ended an eight-game winning streak by UK in the series.
  • Next up: Kentucky will remain in Las Vegas for the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday. The Wildcats will play Ohio State at 5:15 p.m. ET on CBS. 

 
Player Notes   

  • Ashton Hagans scored in double figures a team-leading eighth time this season with 16 points.

    • He also had a game-high eight assists and a season-high four steals.
    • He has led the Wildcats in assists in every game this season.

  • Tyrese Maxey scored a team-high 18 points to reach double figures for the first time since the Lamar game on Nov. 24.

    • It snapped a three-game single-figure scoring streak.
    • He had 10 at halftime.
    • After going 1 for 17 in his previous two games, Maxey made 7 of 13 Wednesday night.
  • EJ Montgomery pitched in with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
    • It’s his first double-figure rebounding game of the season and the third of his career.
    • He has snagged eight or more rebounds in three of the last four games.
  • Nate Sestina returned to the lineup after a three-game absence. He fractured his left wrist on Nov. 26.  He played nine minutes.

 
Calipari 

  • Calipari is now 313-73 at UK.   
  • He has a 758-213 all-time on-court record. 
  • UK is 253-42 vs. Associated Press unranked competition under Calipari.
  • Calipari is 78-22 in neutral-site games at Kentucky.
  • He is 2-2 vs. Utah.

 
Team Notes 

  • UK suffered its first all-time loss in Las Vegas. The Wildcats are now 4-1 in the City of Lights.
  • Utah shot 54.8%. It’s the first time this season an opponent has shot 50% or better.
    • The last time a team shot 50% or better vs. UK was Duke (54.4%) on Nov. 6, 2018.
  • The Wildcats recorded seven steals. Kentucky has recorded six or more steals in three straight games and four of the last five.
  • Kentucky continued to shoot it well from the free-throw line, making 12 of 16 shots.
    • The Wildcats have shot 75% or better from the line in eight of the first 10 games.

 
In the First Half 

  • Kentucky started Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley, EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards for the second game in a row.

    • It’s the first time the Wildcats have used the same starting lineup in back-to-back games since the Lamar game on Nov. 24.
    • Nate Sestina, Keion Brooks Jr. and Kahlil Whitney were the first subs for the Wildcats.
  • The Wildcats fell behind 10-4 at the first media timeout. Utah’s Booth Gach scored the Utes’ first 10 points.
  • Hagans kept Kentucky close early with pair of steals and seven points before the under-12 timeout.
  • UK’s 10-point deficit at 23-13 marked the Wildcats’ biggest deficit of the season.
    • The deficit would increase to as much as 17 in the second half.
  • Hagans and Maxey combined for 19 of Kentucky’s first 23 points.
  • Maxey reached double figures before halftime.
  • After getting within 28-23, Utah reeled off seven straight points before Montgomery hit consecutive jumpers to stop the bleeding.
  • Fueled by Montgomery, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run over the final 2:16 to close the deficit to 35-31 at the half.
  • It was UK’s second halftime deficit of the season. The other deficit was to the Evansville Purple Aces, who defeated Kentucky in Rupp Arena.

 
 In the Second Half 

  • Kentucky opened the second half with the same starting lineup.
  • Utah went on a 10-0 run early in the second half to take a 50-36 lead with 14:56 left in the game.
  • Kentucky began to scrap back with a 7-0 run midway through the half. Brooks provided four of the points, including a second-chance put-back on a missed free throw from Whitney to cut Utah’s lead to 56-46.
  • A 12-2 run, highlighted by a Richards and one – his first points of the game – pulled Kentucky within seven at 58-51.
  • After a 3-pointer by Utah’s Riley Battin looked like it may foil the Wildcats’ comeback attempts, UK reeled off six straight points to tie the game at 66-66 with 1:43 left. Hagans got the pivotal steal and layup to tie it.
  • On the ensuing possession, Timmy Allen drained a jumper with 1:21 to go to retake the lead for Utah. The Utes would not relinquish this lead. Utah would add to its lead with a free throw from Rylan Jones.
  • Quickley had a 3-point attempt with one second remaining from the left corner in an attempt to force overtime but missed.


 

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