KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES 
MISSISSIPPI STATE at KENTUCKY
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY.
FEB. 4, 2020 
ATTENDANCE: 20,115
 
Final Score: No. 15/16 Kentucky 80, Mississippi State 72
 
Team Records and Series Notes 

• Kentucky is 17-5 overall, 7-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
• Mississippi State is 14-8 overall, 5-4 in the league, ending a five-game SEC win streak tonight.

• UK leads the series 98-20 and has won 14 in a row.
  • Kentucky’s 14-game winnings streak vs. Mississippi State is tied for its best active streak vs. an SEC school. UK has also won 14 consecutive games against Georgia.
• Next up: on Saturday, Kentucky takes on Tennessee in Knoxville at 1 p.m. That game will be televised by CBS.

 
Player Notes   

• Nick Richards had a career-high 27 points along with 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season.

  • 25 of his 27 points came in the second half. The 25 points are the fourth most in a half by a player in the John Calipari era.
  • 13 of 15 free throws are career highs in both categories.
  • UK is 13-0 this season when he gets at least eight rebounds.
  • Kentucky is 16-1 this season when he scores in double figures and 10-0 when he grabs double-figure boards.
  • He is averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds over the last 11 games.
  • Richards entered this season with one double-double in his first 74 career games.
• Immanuel Quickley ended with 21 points, his 11th straight game in double figures.
  • He made 14 of 14 free throws, tying the school record for most free throws made in a game without a miss. Previously, Louie Dampier (Dec. 22, 1966 vs. Oregon State), Ramel Bradley (Nov. 7, 2007 vs. Gardner-Webb) and Jodie Meeks (Jan. 13, 2009 at Tennessee) also hit 14 without a miss.   
  • He’s averaging 17.8 points over the last 11 games.
  • His 11-game double-figure scoring streak is the longest since PJ Washington did it in 12 straight games last season.
• EJ Montgomery finished with 12 points, his most since his career-high 25 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 7.
  • UK is 4-0 this season when he scores in double figures.
  • He also added eight rebounds and tied his career high for steals with three.
• Tyrese Maxey scored eight points and had five assists. UK is 6-0 this season when he has at least four assists. 

Coach John Calipari 

• Calipari is now 322-76 at UK.   
• He has a 767-216 all-time on-court record. 
• UK is 260-43 against unranked foes under Calipari.
• Kentucy is 54-13 under Calipari in “bounce back” games following losses (does not count end-of-season losses).
• UK is 143-40 under Calipari in SEC regular-season games.
• Calipari is now 15-0 all-time vs. Mississippi State.

Team Notes 

• Kentucky has won 12 straight home games and is 13-1 in Rupp Arena this season.
• Mississippi State won the rebounding 40-37 and dominated second-chance points, 22-4.
  • It was Kentucky’s first victory in five games this season when being outrebounded.
• Kentucky limited Mississippi State to 36.8% from the field.
  • UK is 198-19 (.912) under Calipari when keeping the opponent at 40 percent or less, including 11-3 this season.
• Entering the game at 77.7% at the foul line, the Wildcats had another solid performance at 86.1% (31 of 35). It is UK’s fourth straight game shooting 80% or better.
• Kentucky led by as many as 14 points during the game. UK is 277-7 under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points during the game.
• Statistical oddity: With the Wildcats making only one 3-pointer tonight, UK improved to a 10-1 record under Calipari when making one or fewer 3-pointers.
• It’s the second straight game that UK had two players score at least 20 points. Quickley and Maxey scored 20-plus each at Auburn.

In the First Half 

• The starting lineup consisted of Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley, EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards for the eighth time this season. The Wildcats are 6-2 with the lineup.

  • Keion Brooks Jr. was UK’s first substitute at the 14:31 mark.

• Kentucky held Mississippi State scoreless on the first four possessions while building a 7-0 lead.
• State rallied to tie at 9 but Quickley broke the deadlock with a step-back 3-pointer.
• UK eventually stretched the lead to 31-21, its largest of the half, before going to intermission up 31-23.
  • It is the fewest points allowed in the first half since limiting Fairleigh Dickinson to 23 on Dec. 7.
  • UK is now 15-2 this season when leading at halftime.

 In the Second Half 

• Kentucky began the second half with the opening lineup.
• UK improved the lead to 13 points at 38-25 and later 14 points at 50-36.
• State cut the lead to six at 60-54 with 4:36 remaining, but a dunk and jumper by Richards rebuffed the rally.
• The lead was again six, 64-58, but in the last 2:21 the Wildcats made 16 of 16 free throws – six by Richards, two by Hagans and the last eight by Quickley – to keep the visitors at bay.