Kentucky went 21-of-26 from the free-throw line, and out-rebounded the Tigers 46-31.
LEXINGTON – January 23, 2021 – BRADLEY CHARLES
BBN’s beloved Kentucky Wildcats picked up a much-needed victory on Saturday. Kentucky entered the matchup against LSU with a three-game losing streak, but the Cats dominated the first half en route to an 82-69 win.
UK’s offense was exceptional in the first half. Coach John Calipari’s team made five 3-pointers in the first nine minutes of the opening half, which resulted in a 26-11 lead for the Cats. Kentucky led by double-digits throughout the final 13:41 of the first half. At halftime, the blue-and-white held a 49-36 lead.
The Tigers responded with a 13-5 run to begin the second half, which trimmed UK’s lead to five points. Despite this, the Cats responded with a 10-2 run that extended their lead to double figures once again. From there, UK’s lead never fell below seven points, and the Cats cruised to the 13-point victory.
Brandon Boston Jr. led Kentucky in scoring with 18 points, while Keion Brooks Jr., Olivier Sarr, and Davion Mintz all scored at least 11 points. While the 3-pointers were going in for UK early on, the Cats finished the game 7-of-26 from 3-PT range.
Kentucky’s rebounding played a pivotal role in its win. UK recorded 13 offensive rebounds, while LSU tallied 22 defensive rebounds. The Cats recorded 19 second-chance points, 25 bench points, and 34 points in the paint.
UK’s victory prevented what would have been the program’s third four-game losing streak during the Calipari era, and makes the Cats 13-3 against the Tigers under Calipari.
The Wildcats are now 5-9 (4-3 SEC) this season; LSU is now 10-4 (5-3 SEC).
Kentucky’s next game is scheduled to be at Alabama on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m.