Kentucky, coming off a surprising loss to Alabama came into today looking to make some what of a statement as they attempted to take control of their post season future. LSU, coming off a win over Texas A&M came in to this game looking to steal a win on the road against the Cats.
LSU started the game off with a 5-2 lead, but Kentucky tightened up the defense and quickly took a 10-5 lead before the first media timeout. The first half saw Kentucky play some great defense, execute their offense extremely well and I'm pretty sure I seen Alex Poythress show some emotion. You could also tell that Kyle Wiltjer has regained his confidence, just his low post game alone was evidence of that. He had no problem using some rarely seen post moves and didn't seem to mind battling for rebounds. Despite a few senseless turnovers, Kentucky managed to do everything else well enough to head into halftime with a 42-31 lead with Alex Poythress (No Seriously) leading the way with 11 points at the break.
1st half stats
FG%: 57.6 (19-33)
3P%: 14.3 (1-7)
FT%: 42.9 (3-7)
REB: 22 (with 7 offensive)
BLKS: 4 ( all Noel )
Noel: 7pts
Poythress: 11pts
Wiltjer: 6pts
Mays: 5pts
Goodwin: 5pts
Harrow: 8pts
Kentucky started the second half with a couple silly turnovers and fouling LSU on two straight possessions allowing their 11 point lead slip to 9 in the first two minutes. The defense the Cats showed in the first half was clearly absent in the second as LSU got to the rim way to easily early on.
At the first media timeout Kentucky's lead was whittled away to 52-44 in the first five minutes of the half. The energy, hustle and rebounding we saw in the first half was basically non-existent early in the second, something that seems to be a common occurrence this season. The only thing that seemed to keep LSU in the game early was FT's as Kentucky had picked up their 5th team foul by the 13:02 mark in the second. With eight minutes left in the game, Kentucky had dominated the paint out scoring the Tigers 44-22 inside.
With 5:57 left in the game, a phantom Flagrant-1 against Julius Mays sent LSU to the line where they cut the lead to 65-58. The effort and energy Kentucky left in the first half seemed to find its way back in the second as the Cats finally started playing some a little D late in the half. Still, unforced turnovers and a somewhat lack of rebounding was keeping the Tigers in it. With 3:10 to go, Alex Poythress recorded his first career double-double with 15pts and 10rebs. Kentucky will need more of this from Alex as they move forward if they hope to have a chance at a NCAA birth. But before I'm ready to label Alex as "bought in", let's see him do it two games in a row.
A team that Kentucky honestly should have destroyed, managed to keep it close thanks in large part to Kentucky turnovers. Clinging to a three point lead, Coach Cal used a play that most coaches choose not too when he fouled Anthony Hickey before he could get off a three point attempt sending him to the line where he missed the front end of a one and one. Another break for the Cats came when there ACTUALLY was six players on the floor when the ball was inbounded, but thanks to a quick thinking assistant coach for pulling Noel off the floor before it was caught. I'm not sure if this is a reviewable play or not, but at this point we'll take any breaks we can get.
Kentucky wins this one 75-70. Up next... Ole Miss on the road, this one wont be easy
FINAL STATS
FG% 57
REB: 39 (13 offensive)
3P%: 18% (2-11)
TO: 16 (LSU got 20pts off those)
ASTS: 7
STL: 4
Poythress: 20 pts 12rebs
Harrow: 11pts 1reb 1ast
Goodwin: 15pts 5rebs 2asts
Noel: 10pts 8rebs 2asts
Mays: 9pts 4rebs 1ast
Wiltjer: 8pts 3rebs 1ast
Polson: 2pts 1reb
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