Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Kentucky vs. Montana State Postgame Notes

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Postgame notes from Sunday night’s game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Montana State.

Montana State at Kentucky Men’s Basketball

Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.

Nov. 23, 2014

FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 86, Montana State 28

  • Kentucky is 5-0 and Montana State is 0-4.
  • This was the first game ever between Kentucky and Montana State.
  • Kentucky is 183-27 all-time when ranked No. 1 and has won 23 of the last 25 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 67-9 record as the top-ranked coach, including 26-4 at UK.
  • Kentucky returns to action Tuesday at home against UT Arlington. Game time is 7 p.m. and it will be televised by the SEC Network.

First-Half Facts

  • Kentucky’s opening lineup featured Dominique Hawkins, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein for the second consecutive game.
  • Montana State led 2-1 through the first four and one-half minutes of the game before the Wildcats reclaimed the lead for good.
  • Kentucky dominated the remainder of the opening period and went to intermission ahead 39-11.
  • UK had runs of 11-0 and 10-0 in the first half.
  • The 11 points scored by Montana State tied the Kentucky record for fewest points allowed in a first half since the shot clock was adopted in the 1985-86 season. UK led Campbell 45-11 at the end of the first half on Dec. 29, 2004.
  • This marks the fourth time in five games that UK has held an opponent to less than 20 points in a half. Only Boston has scored at least 20 in each half vs. UK this season.

Second-Half Story

  • Kentucky started the second half with Andrew Harrison, Devin Booker, Trey Lyles, Marcus Lee and Dakari Johnson.
  • UK held Montana State scoreless for the first 10 minutes and 23 seconds of the second half until the Bobcats tallied with 9:36 left on the clock. That marked a 26-0 run to open the half and a 65-11 advantage.
  • Kentucky went on to lead by as many 60 points before finishing with an 86-28 victory.

Team Notes

  • 28 points is the fewest for a UK opponent since the shot clock era began in 1985-86. The previous low was 32 by Morehead State on Dec. 16, 1995, a 96-32 UK win.
  • The 58-point margin of victory was UK’s fifth-largest of the shot clock era.
  • Montana State was limited to 19.7 percent from the field, the second time this season UK has held an opponent under 20 percent.
  • Kentucky has held all five opponents under 40 percent shooting.
  • Counting both halves tonight, UK has held opponents under 20 points in five of the 10 halves played so far this season.
  • UK had a season-high 12 blocked shots tonight. UK has blocked at least seven shots in all five games this season, the first five-game streak since Jan. 10-22, 2013.
  • UK won rebounding 53-35 tonight and has outrebounded all five opponents this season.
  • UK won bench points 52-15 and has won bench points by at least 22 points in every game this season.
  • Kentucky is now 42-0 under Coach Calipari when holding the opponent to 55 or fewer points.
  • No Wildcat played more than 20 minutes tonight.

Player Notes

  • Devin Booker led the Wildcats with a season-high 18 points, including his second game in a row with at least three 3-pointers. He also had a three steals, most by a Wildcat this season.
  • Aaron Harrison had 14 points tonight, giving him back-to-back games in double figures.
  • Dakari Johnson had a season-high 13 points, his fourth double-figure game of the campaign.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns had eight points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
    • Towns also blocked six shots, most by a Wildcat this season.
  • Tyler Ulis tallied eight points, making all three of his field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers. He also had a game-high five assists.
  • Derek Willis pulled down a career-best five rebounds.
  • Trey Lyles contributed eight points, making all six free throws. He notched season highs with six rebounds and four assists.