Notes From Kentucky's Painful 74-73 Win Over Texas A&M

UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES

TEXAS A&M AT KENTUCKY 

RUPP ARENA | LEXINGTON, KY.

JAN. 9, 2018
ATTENDANCE: 22,643

Final Score: #21/20 Kentucky 74, Texas A&M 73

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 13-3 overall and 3-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Texas A&M is 11-5 overall, 0-4 in league play.  
• Kentucky leads the series 9-3 and has won four in a row vs. the Aggies.
• UK leads the series 5-2 in Lexington.  
• Kentucky begins a two-game road swing Saturday at Vanderbilt, 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. CST in Nashville). The game will be televised on ESPN.   

In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, PJ Washington, Kevin Knox and Nick Richards for the third time this season. UK is 3-0 with this lineup.
• Kentucky extended its streak of 1,029 consecutive games with a 3-pointer when Washington hit a long ball at the 17-minute mark. 
• Texas A&M came out hot, making 8 of the first 10 shots for an 18-14 lead. But, the Aggies missed their next six field goals and UK went on a 12-2 run for a 26-20 Wildcat advantage.
• UK went cold at that point, going over seven minutes without a field goal, but the Cats’ defense and foul shots kept them in the game.
• Knox swished a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to send UK to intermission with a 37-35 lead.
• Gilgeous-Alexander led the Wildcats with 12 points, most he has scored this season in the first half. 
• UK is 9-1 this season when leading at halftime.

In the Second Half

• Tied at 67 with 2:44 remaining, Washington was involved with UK’s next six points:
• A steal by Washington led to a fast-break layup by Knox.
• A TAMU turnover was followed by a Washington foul shot. 
• Two TAMU missed foul shots prefaced a Washington driving layup for a 72-67 lead with 58 seconds remaining.
• Ahead 72-69 with 37 seconds left, Washington got a rebound and hit a free throw.
• Ahead 73-71 with 15.9 seconds left, Knox hit a free throw.
• TAMU got a tip-in with five seconds left to make it 74-73.  
• UK missed two foul shots, but a long Aggie pass went out of bounds at the buzzer as UK held on to win. 

Team Notes

• It was a close game throughout, featuring 14 ties and 12 lead changes, and six points was the widest margin for either team during the game.
• UK shot 55.8 percent from the field, making 24 of 43.  
• UK is 6-0 this season when making at least 50 percent, 10-0 when making at least 46.4 percent.
• UK outrebounded Texas A&M 28-27.  The Wildcats are 12-0 this season when winning the battle of the boards. 
• UK had only 12 turnovers tonight.  The Cats are 6-0 this season when committing 12 or fewer miscues. 
• UK has won a pair of one-possession games in the last week, 74-71 at LSU and 74-73 tonight.
• UK is 41-8 under Coach John Calipari in bounce-back games after losses, including 3-0 this season.
• Kentucky has won 16 in a row in Rupp Arena.

Player Notes  

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander notched 16 points and a career-high seven rebounds.
• Had five assists tonight and has had at least four in six straight games.
• Hamidou Diallo led the Wildcats with 18 points, 14 of which came in the second half. 
• Scored 10 in a row early in the second half.
• PJ Washington had 16 points, his third straight game in double figures. 
• With the game tied at 67, Washington was involved with the next six points – a steal which led to a Knox layup, a free throw, a driving layup and a free throw.
• Kevin Knox tallied 15 points, making all five field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers.
• Wenyen Gabriel only points came on a 3-pointer.  He’s made at least one 3-pointer in eight consecutive games, the longest such streak for any UK player this season.
• Quade Green and Tai Wynyard missed the game because of injury.

Coach John Calipari

• Calipari has a 707-196 all-time on-court record.
• Calipari is now 262-56 at Kentucky.
• Calipari is 145-6 at Rupp Arena, including 127-3 against unranked opponents.
• Calipari is 8-2 vs. Texas A&M in his career.