UK Wildcats
LSU came into the game 1-9 in conference play and that is just what the doctor ordered for this young struggling Kentucky basketball team.
Freshman point-guard DeAaron Fox made the first three-pointer less than a minute into the game and the Wildcats never looked back as they road and up and down roller coaster ride for the 92-85 win.
Wenyen Gabriel had 11 points and 4 rebounds eight minutes into the game as the Wildcats had a little more pep in their step tonight. Gabriel carried that momentum into the locker room with 16 first half points on 5-8 shooting from the field, he also had 7 first half rebounds. Freshman Malik Monk chipped in with14 first half points and was 6-11 from the field. Cats finished the first twenty minutes with a 16-point lead as they took a 43-27 edge in at the break.
Kentucky played a little lax in the second half as they had more turnovers (5) in the first eight minutes of the second stanza than they had in the whole first half (4). The lackadaisical play allowed the Tigers to get as close as 10 points with 14 minutes to go in the game. It was then that the Cats steadied themselves and went up by as many as 25 points before the sloppy play came back to haunt them and take away what should have been a big time blow out. The game was out-of-control, before the Cats let LSU get as close as six in the final 30 seconds.
Wenyen Gabriel had his best game of the season with a career high 23 points and 8 rebounds before fouling out with 19 seconds left in the game. Malik Monk also finished with a game high 23 points. It was the 15th time this season that Monk has led the team in scoring. DeAaron Fox finished with 16 points and Isaiah Briscoe was also in double-figures with 14 points. Bam Adebayo had 8 points and a team high 9 rebounds.
The Wildcats got the much-needed win, but they still a lot of things to correct before tournament time.
This win propels the Wildcats to 19-5 on the season and 9-2 in SEC play.
