Staff report
Less than five minutes into the second half Wednesday night, visiting Kentucky found itself locked in a tight four-point contest with Mississippi State.
A jumper by Roquez Johnson pulled the Bulldogs within 41-37 of the No. 1 and undefeated Wildcats. Time to panic? Not hardly.
Kentucky ran its undefeated streak to 28 in a row (15-0 SEC), the second-longest in school history, by going on a 19-3 run on the way to an relatively overwhelming 74-56 decision and keeping a historic season intact. With the win, UK clinches another SEC regular season title with three games left on its schedule.
The Wildcats are now within four games of the all-time school record for consecutive wins, 32, set over two seasons from 1953-54. With three regular season games left, the Cats would set the mark with their first win in the SEC tournament. The quest for a 40-0 season remains alive for another day.
Kentucky is also 57-0 under coach John Calipari when holding opponents to 56 points or less.
Freshman Trey Lyles had a career-high 18 points to go with six rebounds and two assists. He had 13, one short of his career best, in the first half, which ended with the Cats on top 36-27 thanks to a late three-pointer from Tyler Ulis.
Aaron Harrison added 16 points on six of 16 shooting, including a monster slam on a lob from brother Andrew in the second half that made it 67-43 with just over six minutes to play. Devin Booker contributed 14 points in 19 productive minutes and Karl-Anthony Towns, who started slowly, finished with a double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Willie Cauley-Stein scored just four points, but had eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Andrew Harrison had five points and three assists while Ulis led the team with five assists.
“We’re a different team when Andrew attacks and Aaron attacks,” said Calipari on an SEC Network interview. “They’re so big, they get into the lane. I don’t know how you guard them. Trey Lyles was outstanding. He’s the X factor. He’s as good as any player in the country … when he’s healthy.”
Fred Thomas and Craig Sword combined for 24 points to lead Mississippi State (12-16, 5-10 SEC). Thomas’ 14 on six of nine shooting led the way.
The last time Kentucky was on a 27-game winning streak was the national championship year of 1995-96. Mississippi State halted the run in the SEC tournament.
Kentucky was 28 of 57 from the field for 49 percent while the Bulldogs were 19 of 51 for 37 percent, above what UK had been allowing (34 percent) heading into the game. UK also had a 35-30 edge on the boards and managed 15 assists on 28 buckets.
The announced attendance of 6,795 left the gym half full after a winter snow storm hit Starkville during the afternoon. Calipari said the Cats wouldn’t travel back to Lexington Wednesday, but would remain in Mississippi overnight and practice in Starkville in preparation for Saturday’s game with No. 18 Arkansas at Rupp Arena.
That game tips off at 4 p.m.