Ole Miss Rebels at Kentucky Wildcats Postgame Notes

Feb 4, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Alex Poythress (22) shoots the ball against Mississippi Rebels guard Ladarius White (10) and forward Aaron Jones (34) in the first half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Mississippi 80-64. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky Wildcat (17-5) defeated the Ole Miss Rebels (15-7) convincingly Tuesday night, and their 80-64 win now leaves them alone in second-place in the SEC at 7-2.

Here are the game notes from the contest, courtesy of UK Media Relations:

Team Records, Notes

Kentucky is 17-5, 7-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss is 15-7, 6-3 in league play.
Kentucky leads the series 101-13. The Wildcats lead 51-2 in Lexington, including 36-1 in Rupp Arena.
The teams will have a rematch two weeks from tonight in Oxford.
Kentucky begins a two-game road swing Saturday at Mississippi State. Game time is 1:30 p.m. EST (12:30 p.m. CST in Starkville) and it will be televised by SEC TV.

First-Half Facts

Kentucky started Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, James Young, Julius Randle and Dakari Johnson for the second-consecutive game. It’s the sixth time this season UK has opened with an all-freshman lineup and UK is 6-0 in those games.
Aaron Harrison canned a 3-pointer with 10 minutes to play in the first half, extending UK’s consecutive three streak to 882 games.
It was an evenly contested first half with neither team leading by more than five points. James Young’s foul shot with 51 seconds remaining sent UK into intermission with a 35-34 lead. It proved to be an advantage that the Wildcats did not relinquish.

Second-Half Story

Ahead 43-41, UK went on a 7-0 run for a 50-41 lead and the Rebels got no closer than seven after that.
The Wildcats gradually extended the lead to as many as 19 points at 80-61.

Team Notes

Kentucky has won 22 consecutive home games, currently the nation’s fifth-longest active home streak.

UK has won 13 straight SEC home contests.
UK is 81-2 in Rupp Arena under Coach John Calipari.

Kentucky shot 51 percent from the field, the third time in the last four games the Cats have made at least half their shots.

Kentucky controlled the area around the basket tonight:

Led by Willie Cauley-Stein’s six blocked shots and and Dakari Johnson’s four rejections, UK totaled a season-high 12 blocks.
UK won the rebounding 41-26.
UK won points in the paint 44-24.

Five Wildcats scored in double figures, first time that has occurred since the win over Texas-Arlington on Nov. 19.

UK made 26 of 36 tonight at the foul line. Over the last six games the Wildcats have made 75 percent (108 of 144).

Individual Notes

Willie Cauley-Stein gave the Rebels his last full measure of devotion, leading the way with a season-high 18 points, making 7 of 8 from the field. UK is 6-0 in his career when he scores 15 or more.

Cauley-Stein also had 11 rebounds, giving him his second double-double of the season and sixth of his career.
WCS added six blocked shots, two assists and a steal.

Aaron Harrison followed with 16 points. He is averaging 16.5 points per game over the last four games. He claimed six rebounds, one shy of his career best.

Julius Randle notched 12 points, including 8 of 10 at the foul line.

James Young tallied 10 points, landing in double figures for the fifth-straight game.

Once again, Alex Poythress came off the bench to make a strong contribution. UK’s Feline of the Baseline totaled 10 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes of play.

Dakari Johnson made his second start, collecting five points and a career-best four blocked shots.

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