Kentucky Wildcats vs Missouri Tigers Postgame Notes
By Paul Jordan
Mandatory Credit: Dak Dillon-USA TODAY Sports
Kentucky Wildcats vs Missouri Tigers Postgame Notes
#11/11 Kentucky 84, Missouri 79
Feb. 1, 2014
Mizzou Arena – Columbia, Mo.
Team Records, Notes
Kentucky improves to 16-5 and 6-2 in Southeastern Conference play while Missouri falls to 16-5, 4-3 in league play.
Kentucky now leads the series 6-0 and this marked the first-ever meeting in Columbia.
Kentucky returns to action with a home date vs. Ole Miss on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPNU.
UK’s all-time record against SEC foes now stands at 917-258.
Today’s attendance was 11,742.
Team Facts
Kentucky’s starting lineup was comprised of all freshmen in Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Julius Randle and James Young. It marked the first time in the history of the program four freshmen formed the starting lineup on the road. Four times earlier this season (Nov. 17-Nov. 27) during a four-game home stretch Marcus Lee joined the Harrisons, Randle and Young in the starting lineup.
Willie Cauley-Stein was the first sub off the bench. It’s the fifth time this season the sophomore has been the first substitution.
The Wildcats are now 45-10 all-time as the Associated Press’ No. 11 rated squad and 9-3 under Calipari.
Kentucky held a 42-32 advantage at the break. UK is 13-1 and 5-0 in SEC action when owning a lead at intermission.
First Half Facts
Andrew Harrison connected on UK’s first 3-pointer at the 18:19 mark of the first half to extend UK’s 3-point streak to 882 consecutive games.
After the Tigers opened the scoring, UK went on a 7-0 run over a 1:27 period to grab a 7-2 lead in the opening stanza. It would be a lead they would never relinquish.
Over the last five minutes of the half the Wildcats were able to utilize a 12-2 run to earn a lead as large as 12 at the 1:42 mark helping lead to a 10-point edge into the break.
Second Half Facts
UK pushed its halftime lead to 16 at the 14:32 mark before the Tigers were able to come back and get within four at 63-59. Young then connected on his fourth 3-pointer of the game to quell the home team’s run.
The Tigers again pushed the Cats to the brink of giving up the lead yet again when the home team climbed to within three before Andrew Harrison sunk a pair of free throws at the 6:56 mark to stretch the lead back to five. Julius Randle scored on a floater in the lane on the next Wildcat possession to extend the lead to seven.
A four-point play by the Tigers at the 1:31 mark pulled the home team to within three. The teams exchanged points on consecutive possessions until an Aaron Harrison reverse lay-up at the 19-second mark gave UK a five-point lead. Alex Poythress came up with a block and recovered the rebound for Kentucky to help seal the win.
Individual Notes
Aaron Harrison led Kentucky in scoring with 21 points.
Andrew Harrison scored 14 points and dished out four assists.
Dakari Johnson scored two points in 11 minutes.
Julius Randle recorded 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals in 37 minutes.
James Young nailed four 3s to score 20 points.
o Went 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
o Scored on a reverse lay-up with 19 seconds to play to give UK a five-point lead.
o Scored a season-high 12 points in the opening stanza.
o Led UK in assists for the 12th time this season.
o Made his first career start.
o Matched his career-high with three steals.
o Seventh game with three or more assists.
o Extended his personal 3-point streak to nine-straight contests.
o Moved past Eric Bledsoe for fourth-place all-time in UK’s freshman 3-point record list and
is now just the fourth player to sink 50 or more long balls in his opening campaign.
o Scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
o Has made three or more 3s in 10 games.