UK totaled 13 blocks and six steals as the Cats now hold a 4-0 all-time record against Lamar.
LEXINGTON – November 24, 2019 – Bradley Charles – Bluegrass
Sports Nation
On Sunday night, the Kentucky Wildcats beat Lamar University
in convincing fashion with a season-high ten 3-pointers.
Kentucky jumped out to a 10-0 lead to start the game, but
Lamar responded with a 19-9 run of their own to make the score 19-19 with 8:52
to play in the first half. However, Kentucky responded with a 20-0 run and
never looked back. The final score was 81-56 in favor of the blue-and-white.
Tyrese Maxey put
up another career night, scoring 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field
while shooting 4-of-6 on 3-pointers. Maxey also hauled in five rebounds and
dished out three assists while also recording a block and a steal. All four of
Maxey’s 3-pointers came in a 4:12 span during Kentucky’s 20-0 run in the first
half.
Nick Richards
posted his third double-double of the season. The junior had 10 points on
5-of-9 shooting from the field to go along with 13 rebounds and a career-high
seven blocks. Richards only had one double-double in his first two years at UK,
a clear sign of growth.
Immanuel Quickley
provided 11 points in 19 minutes of action for the Cats. Quickley has scored in
double figures and hit at least one 3-pointer in every game he’s played this
season.
The play of Ashton
Hagans continues to impress. The sophomore posted 15 points on 4-of-6
shooting from the field while going 3-of-4 from behind the arc and a perfect
4-of-4 at the free throw line. Hagans also tallied nine assists, three
rebounds, and two steals. In Hagan’s time at UK, the Cats are 8-0 when he
scores at least 14 points.
It was the second game back for E.J. Montgomery and Immanuel Quickley who had been dealing with
injuries. Their effect on the team was immediately noticed. In the two games
since their return, Kentucky has totaled 40 assists which is their best
two-game stretch since totaling 57 vs. Arizona State and UT Martin in November
2016. UK had just 17 assists in the two games prior to their returns.
After the game, Coach Calipari had this to say about the
return of Montgomery and Quickley: “Well, when you’re playing without two
veterans in E.J. Montgomery and Immanuel Quickley you’re not going to be the
same, not with this group, because then you’re playing freshman who are not
ready to be the dominating guys. Even Tyrese Maxey is still learning.”
All things considered, Kentucky did exactly what they are
supposed to do and looked good in the process. That being said, it is still
November and there is obviously still a lot of room for improvement. It is
important to remember that developing a championship-caliber team takes time.
The team we see in November is not going to be the team we see in March.
“I’m not coaching this game against that score. I’m coaching
this team to be prepared for what they got going forward,” Calipari said after
the game.
What’s Next?
Kentucky’s next game is on Friday, Nov. 29th as the Cats battle UAB. The game will tip at 7:00 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network.
