KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES 
KENTUCKY AT LOUISVILLE
KFC YUM! CENTER | LOUISVILLE, KY.
DECEMBER 26, 2020 
ATTENDANCE: 3,281
 
Final Score: Louisville 62, Kentucky 59
 
Team Records and Series Notes                                       

• Kentucky is now 1-6 and Louisville is 6-1.

• Kentucky leads the series 37-17, ending a three-game series win streak by the Wildcats.
  • UK leads 13-10 in games played in Louisville.
• Next: UK’s home game vs. South Carolina on Dec. 29 has been postponed. The next game on the schedule is Sat. Jan. 2 at Mississippi State.  Game time is 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT in Starkville, Mississippi) and it will be televised on the SEC Network.

Player Notes   

• For the second game in a row, Davion MIntz scored a season high. After scoring 17 points vs. North Carolina, he had 19 points today.

  • His scoring was sparked by four 3-pointers, most by a Wildcat this season.
  • He tied for the team best with seven rebounds.
• Brandon Boston Jr. notched 11 points and has scored in double figures in all seven games this season. He also had seven rebounds, tying for the team lead today.
• Jacob Toppin had his top game as a Wildcat with 10 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes.

Coach John Calipari 

• Calipari is now 331-83 at UK, including 11-3 in games against Louisville.
• Calipari has a 776-223 all-time on-court record. 
• UK is 268-48 under Calipari against Associated Press unranked teams.
• Kentucky is 55-18 under Calipari following a loss. Five of those losses have come during this current losing streak.

Team Notes 

• UK has lost six in a row for the first time since Feb. 5-22, 1989.
  • It’s tied for the second-longest losing streak in school history. The 1923 team dropped nine in a row.
• Kentucky has started 1-6 for the first time since the 1926-27 team opened 1-8.
• This was the fourth straight game against opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference. UK is 58-45 all-time against teams comprising the ACC.
• Kentucky lost despite limiting Louisville to 62 points. Under Calipari, UK is now 186-8 when keeping the opponent to 63 or fewer points.
  • Today’s loss ended a 34-game win streak for Kentucky when the opponent scored 63 or fewer.
• Kentucky won the rebounding 40-35, the fifth time in seven games that the Wildcats have led the boardwork.

In the First Half 

• The starting lineup consisted of Davion Mintz, Brandon Boston Jr., Devin Askew, Isaiah Jackson and Olivier Sarr for the first time this season.

• UK took its first lead, 5-3, at the 16:35 mark when Askew swished a 3-pointer.
• Lance Ware, Terrence Clarke and Jacob Toppin were UK’s first subs at the 14:48 mark.
• Toppin made his presence felt immediately with three rebounds and back-to-back baskets within a three-minute span, returning UK to a 13-11 lead.
• The closely contested first half ended with a Louisville basket and a 28-27 lead by the Cardinals.
  • UK is 0-3 this season when trailing at intermission.

 In the Second Half 

• The starting lineup opened the second half.  
• A blocked shot and two steals by Jackson led to three fast-break baskets and a 34-30 lead at the 17:15 mark.
• However, UK went on a drought of four minutes and 47 seconds and Louisville’s 7-0 run gave the Cardinals a 37-34 lead.    
  • UKs field-goal drought went eight minutes, from 17:15 to 9:15, and UofL built a 45-39 lead. Toppin broke the skid with a short jumper in the lane.
• Trailing 57-50 with 4:49 left, equaling the largest lead of the game, MIntz replied with a huge 3-pointer that kept the Wildcats in the hunt.
  • Boston made both ends of a 1-and-1, then Jackson dunked in his own miss and the 6-0 spurt moved the Cats within one at 57-56.
• Making the second of two foul shots, Jackson tied it at 59 with 1:05 remaining.
• Tied at 59, Askew missed a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left and Jackson fouled out during the scramble for the rebound.
• With 18 seconds left, Louisville’s Dre Davis made the second of two foul shots to make it 60-59.
• With eight seconds left, Sarr’s jumper curled around the rim and went out.
• UofL’s Carlik Jones got the rebound with five seconds left, was fouled, and made both shots.
• Boston’s 3-pointer from the right wing missed at the buzzer.