Columbia at Kentucky, Men’s Basketball
Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.
Dec. 10, 2014
FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 56, Columbia 46
Kentucky is 10-0 and Columbia is 5-3.
Kentucky leads the series 2-0.
Kentucky is 188-27 all-time when ranked No. 1 and has won 28 of the last 30 games as The Associated Press top-ranked team.
Coach John Calipari has led three teams to a No. 1 ranking (Massachusetts, Memphis, Kentucky) and has a 72-9 record as the top-ranked coach, including 31-4 at UK.
Kentucky returns to action Saturday at home against North Carolina. Game time is noon and it will be televised on CBS.
First-Half Facts
Kentucky’s opening lineup featured Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Alex Poythress, Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein for the eighth time this season.
The Lions roared first with the game’s first 11 points, marking UK’s largest deficit of the season.
Kentucky got on the board at the 14:55 mark on a driving layup and foul shot by Aaron Harrison.
UK gradually narrowed the deficit, but thanks to five Columbia 3-pointers in the opening period, the Lions went to halftime ahead 25-23. It is UK’s lowest scoring half of the season.
Second-Half Story
Kentucky started the second half with the same lineup that began the game.
The Wildcats tied the game at 25, 27 and 34 before taking their first lead of the game, 36-34, on a pair of Derek Willis foul shots with 13:18 remaining. UK never trailed again.
Ahead 38-37, Kentucky got three consecutive dunks or layups, a 6-0 spurt that gave the Cats a 44-37 cushion.
UK’s lead grew to as many as 15 points at 56-41.
Team Notes
Columbia was limited to 37.5 percent from the field. UK entered the game holding opponents to just 27.9 percent from the field, leading the nation in that category.
Kentucky has held all 10 opponents under 40 percent shooting.
Columbia’s 46 points is a season low for the Lions. Nine of UK’s 10 opponents (all except Boston) have scored their season low against the Wildcats.
Kentucky had a season-low four turnovers. Kentucky’s last turnover came at 13:52 in the first half.
Key stat for Kentucky was points in the paint, as UK held a 30-20 advantage.
UK led bench points 18-11 and has won bench points every game this season.
Kentucky is now 47-0 under Coach Calipari when holding its opponent to 55 or fewer points, including the last six in a row and nine of 10 games this season.
Player Notes
Aaron Harrison led the Wildcats with 14 points, his fourth double-figure game of the season.
Trey Lyles seven points and 10 rebounds, his second consec
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