The bench leads the Kentucky basketball team over Alabama
By Drew Koch
The Kentucky basketball team snapped their 4-game losing streak and defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 81-71. PJ Washington led the Wildcats with 16 points off the bench.
The Kentucky basketball team got a much needed win over Alabama on Saturday at home. The Wildcats were led in scoring by PJ Washington’s 16 points. The victory snapped Kentucky’s 4-game losing streak in conference play.
Washington came off the bench for the second consecutive game. He, along with fellow freshman Quade Green, combined for 15 of Kentucky’s 39 first half points. Green was 4-of-5 from the field in the first half and led all scorers at halftime with 9 points. Green finished 5-of-6 for the game and had 12 points.
Jarred Vanderbilt had his best game of the season. In only 19 minutes, he had 11 points and 9 rebounds. When asked about Vanderbilt’s play after the game, John Calipari compared his game to that of Dennis Rodman. Vanderbilt, Green and Washington, all came off the bench and all scored in double figures. The UK bench had 39 of Kentucky’s 81 total points.
Nick Richards had a very efficient and productive game. Richards was 3-of-4 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. His 10 points and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes was among his best performances as of late.
The Kentucky basketball team again played phenomenal perimeter defense. The Cats held Bama to 25% from behind the arc and limited the Tide to only 6 makes from downtown. Donta Hall played well for Alabama, as the big man finished with 16 points. Hall had 2 of the Tide’s 3 blocks, however, Alabama leads the SEC in blocks per game and the Wildcats managed to beat them in that statistic 4 to 3.
After losing 4 straight games, this was a much needed win for the Kentucky basketball team. BBN can take a deep breath and relax, at least until Tuesday when the Cats head to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks.