UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES (Provided by UK Athletics)
KENTUCKY AT MISSOURI
MIZZOU ARENA | COLUMBIA, MO.
FEB. 3, 2018 ATTENDANCE: 15,061
Final Score: Missouri 69, #21/22 Kentucky 60
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky ended a three-game win streak and is 17-6 overall, 6-4 in the Southeastern Conference. Missouri is 15-8 overall, 5-5 in league play.
Kentucky leads the series 10-1, including 3-1 in Columbia.
Next for the Wildcats: Kentucky plays host to Tennessee on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.
In the First Half
Kentucky’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (pictured in an earlier game this season), Hamidou Diallo, PJ Washington, Kevin Knox and Nick Richards for the ninth time this season. UK is 6-3 with this lineup.
Kentucky led 9-6 early but went cold from the field, missing 13 straight field-goal attempts as Missouri went on a 10-0 run for a 16-9 lead. The Tigers led the remainder of the game.
UK closed within 20-18 before Missouri went on an 8-0 run and went to intermission with a 28-18 lead.
The 18 points is UK’s fewest in a half in the Coach John Calipari era.
It is the fewest for the Wildcats since scoring 16 vs. West Virginia on Nov. 29, 2008.
UK shot 20 percent in the first half (6 of 30), UK’s worst shooting half of the season.
It is UK’s lowest field-goal percentage in a half since 17.2 percent vs. South Carolina on March 1, 2014.
UK is 6-4 this season when trailing or tied at halftime.
In the Second Half
Kentucky scored on its first six possessions and closed within 33-32.
Missouri responded with eight points in less than a minute to rebuild the cushion to 41-32.
Missouri extended the lead to as many as 14 points at 52-38 and 54-40.
Kentucky extended its streak of 1,036 consecutive games with a 3-pointer when Wenyen Gabriel connected from long range with 2:51 left in the game.
Kentucky closed within five at 65-60 with 41.8 seconds remaining but got no closer.
Team Notes
Kentucky’s 60 points is a season low.
UK shot a season-low 31.3 percent from the field, including 10 percent from 3-point range.
Kentucky outrebounded Missouri 40-36. The Wildcats are now 15-2 this season when outrebounding the opponent.
UK claimed 20 offensive rebounds, one shy of the season high, but was only able to manufacture 11 points from the second chances.
Missouri shot just 30.4 percent from 3-point range today, 7 of 23. UK entered the game fourth in the nation in 3-point defense at 28.8 percent.
UK opponents also are attempting 3-pointers at a record rate. Opponents are averaging 25.6 long balls per game, well ahead of the record of 23.2 3-pointers attempted in the 2007-08 season.
Player Notes
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Wildcats with 15 points and six assists. It’s his eighth game with six or more assists this season.
Jarred Vanderbilt totaled a career-high eight points and 10 rebounds in only 16 minutes of action.
Vanderbilt has 42 rebounds in 72 minutes this season, an average of one carom per 1.7 minutes of action, an outstanding ratio.
Photo by Ron Morrow