Postgame notes from Kentucky's 80-71 loss at Auburn

On3 imageby:Jack Pilgrim•01/22/22

Kentucky couldn’t get it done on the road, falling to Auburn by a final score of 80-71 to move to 15-4 on the year. It was the team’s third true road loss and fourth overall away from home.

How did the loss happen? What needs to change as the team prepares for Mississippi State? The game notes and statistics from the loss tell some of the story. Check those out below, courtesy of UK Athletics.

Final Score: No. 2/2 Auburn 80, No. 12/12 Kentucky 71

Team Records, Series Notes, Etc.

  • Kentucky ended a four-game winning streak and is now 15-4 on the season and 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
  • Auburn has a 15-game winning streak and is 18-1 overall, 7-0 in the conference. 
  • Today’s game marked the third of five consecutive games for Kentucky against teams that had a combined record of 64-13 when the stretch began Jan. 15.
  • The Wildcats lead the series, 96-23, including 31-18 at Auburn.  However, Auburn has won the last three matchups held in Auburn Arena.
  • Next for Kentucky: UK returns home to host Mississippi State on Tuesday. Game time is 9 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPN.  

Team Notes

  • Kentucky shot 50% percent from the field today, 29 of 58, and the Wildcats are now 9-1 this season when making at least half their shots in a game.
  • Auburn shot 56.8% percent from the field (25 of 44), the highest percentage by a UK opponent this season.
  • UK led by 10 points in the first half.  UK is 300-13 under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points during the game, including 14-1 this season.
  • Kentucky was outrebounded, 27-26. The Wildcats are 0-3 this season when losing or tying the boardwork.
  • Auburn’s work at the foul line was a difference-maker as the Tigers made 24 of 29.  The Wildcats shot well at the charity stripe but got to the line only 10 times, making eight.

Player Notes  

  • Sahvir Wheeler scored 17 points, the second game in a row he led the team in scoring, and chipped in four assists.
  • Making 4 of 7 on 3-pointers, Kellan Grady tied for UK scoring honors with 17 points. 
    • Over the last 10 games he is averaging 14.1 points per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the field (47 of 97), including 46.1 percent (35 of 76) from 3-point range.
    • It is the seventh time this season he has made at least four 3-pointers in a game.
  • Oscar Tshiebwe totaled 16 points and 14 rebounds.
    • It is his 13th double-double of the season, ranking third in the nation in that category.
    • The nation’s leading rebounder has grabbed double-figure boards in all but two games this season.
  • TyTy Washington Jr. incurred an ankle injury at the 8:20 mark of the first half and did not return. He totaled four points and one assist in nine minutes of action.

Coach Calipari

  • John Calipari is now 354-97 at UK.
  • Calipari remains one win short of No. 800 and has a 799-237 all-time on-court record. 
  • Since 2005-06, Calipari is 114-56 on the road at UK and Memphis.
  • UK is 65-41 vs. Associated Press ranked competition under Calipari, including 1-3 vs. teams ranked No. 2.  
  • Calipari is now 13-6 vs. Auburn, all at Kentucky. 
  • Calipari has tallied a 372-118 all-time record within conference play as a head coach and owns a 164-52 record since joining the SEC.

In the First Half

  • The starting lineup featured Sahvir Wheeler, TyTy Washington Jr., Kellan Grady, Keion Brooks Jr. and Oscar Tshiebwe for the third consecutive game. UK is now 12-4 with that starting lineup this season.
  • Trailing 7-4, Kentucky went on a 13-0 spurt for a 17-7 lead.
  • Jacob Toppin was UK’s first substitute at the 13:33 mark but picked up two quick fouls. 
  • UK got six steals in the first 11 minutes of the game, leading to 13 points off turnovers and a 23-16 lead.
  • Auburn’s Walker Kessler got a pair of dunks in the final minute, narrowing UK’s lead to 33-29 at halftime. UK is 14-2 this season when leading at intermission.
  • UK won points off turnovers 15-5 and fast-break points 11-0 in the opening period.
  • Wheeler had eight points and Grady seven in the first half, while Tshiebwe had six points and eight rebounds.

In the Second Half

  • Kentucky began the second half with Wheeler, Davion Mintz, Grady, Brooks and Tshiebwe.
  • With UK ahead 38-33, Auburn went on a 12-2 run to reclaim for a 45-40 advantage, their first lead since early in the game.
  • UK fought back to tie at 45 but a pair of 3-pointers by Wendell Green Jr. sparked an 11-2 spurt to put the Tigers ahead for good. 
  • Wheeler returned at 8:41.  
  • Auburn lengthened their largest lead to 64-52, all totaled a 31-14 run since trailing by five points early in the half.
  • Kentucky kept scrapping and a Grady 3-pointer with 3:10 to go cut the lead to 68-64 but the Wildcats got no closer. 
  • Grady and Tshiebwe led the second-half scoring with 10 points each in the final stanza. 

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