The eighth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats have a tough week of action coming up, which began on Tuesday night, but they got off to a very nice start on their home floor. P.J. Washington scored 21 points at Rupp Arena, as the Wildcats pulled away in the second half for a 76-55 win over the 22nd-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs. Tyler Herro added 18 points for the Wildcats, who outscored the Bulldogs, 42-29, in the second half. Kentucky did hold an eight-point lead at the break, putting together a complete game effort to complete the impressive victory. Washington and Herro both had big three-pointers late in the game to keep their team ahead, as the Wildcats recorded their fifth straight victory.
The win for the Wildcats improves them to 5-1 in conference play, and they got the win by holding off multiple Mississippi State runs. The Bulldogs even got within two points early on in the second half, but Kentucky went on to score 18 of the game's next 25 points, helped out by back-to-back three-pointers from Immanuel Quickley.
The Kentucky defense held Mississippi State to a season-low in points, as well as a season-worst 31 percent shooting mark from the floor. E.J. Montgomery's highlight block on Quinndary Weatherspoon was the key moment for their defense's big night, as they recorded eight blocks as a team. The Wildcats finished at 44 percent shooting, including 8-for-16 from beyond the arc, as Washington led that charge for his first 20-point game in over a month. He added six rebounds and four blocks, while adding three made shots from three-point range in the win.
Weatherspoon scored 19 points, while Tyson Carter added 11, to lead the Bulldogs, who will visit the Florida Gators on Thursday night. The Wildcats' tough week will continue on Saturday evening when they play host to the ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks.
The win for the Wildcats improves them to 5-1 in conference play, and they got the win by holding off multiple Mississippi State runs. The Bulldogs even got within two points early on in the second half, but Kentucky went on to score 18 of the game's next 25 points, helped out by back-to-back three-pointers from Immanuel Quickley.
The Kentucky defense held Mississippi State to a season-low in points, as well as a season-worst 31 percent shooting mark from the floor. E.J. Montgomery's highlight block on Quinndary Weatherspoon was the key moment for their defense's big night, as they recorded eight blocks as a team. The Wildcats finished at 44 percent shooting, including 8-for-16 from beyond the arc, as Washington led that charge for his first 20-point game in over a month. He added six rebounds and four blocks, while adding three made shots from three-point range in the win.
Weatherspoon scored 19 points, while Tyson Carter added 11, to lead the Bulldogs, who will visit the Florida Gators on Thursday night. The Wildcats' tough week will continue on Saturday evening when they play host to the ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks.
