NCAAB Game Recap - UAB at Kentucky
Fri Nov 29, 2019 7:00 PM EST

Winth
70
Duke
83
F
W Ky
54
Lou
71
F
MD
80
Harv
73
F
UNC
78
Oreg
74
F
Mich
82
Gonz
64
F
UAB
58
KY
69
F
Morg
57
OhSt
90
F
TxTch
76
Crei
83
F(OT)
IaSt
76
Seton
84
F
Penn
82
Ariz
92
F
UtSt
73
StMar
81
F
FSU
60
Tenn
57
F
VCU
56
Purd
59
F
Marsh
67
Fla
73
F
JSU
71
ChiSt
62
F
Eurek
60
NOrl
125
F
CAPoly
69
LIU
82
F
LongB
75
Wake
88
F
(N/A)
40
S UT
126
F
UMass
57
Rut
82
F
KTChr
42
Lib
88
F
Temp
65
TAMU
42
F
ASU
56
Chat
74
F
(N/A)
57
IlSt
76
F
DeP
73
Minn
68
F
USC
79
Marq
101
F
Campbl
74
GaSo
84
F
TNSt
81
NFla
73
F
Prov
55
Charl
63
F
SIU-E
51
UCRiv
69
F
SEMO
75
SCla
87
F
PSU
85
Syr
64
F
UND
78
FlGlf
63
F
HolyC
69
FAU
87
F
MD-ES
56
Del
75
F
(N/A)
47
Akr
64
F
Fairf
56
David
67
F
Denv
65
CS-Ful
62
F
Iowa
73
SDSU
83
F
AbCh
51
SMU
70
F
MOSt
58
LSU
73
F
UCF
78
Pepp
65
F
UCDav
73
Utah
77
F
Copp
62
Mont
69
F
UNCW
59
Bois
80
F
Bama
83
USM
68
F
Miss
37
OkSt
78
F
Gram
58
UCSB
67
F
Hamp
57
CSBak
70
F
Longw
51
Pacif
69
F
USF
75
HI
85
F

Kentucky 69, UAB 58

Nov 29, 2019, 7:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

UAB

25

33

58

(9) Kentucky

38

31

69

Big men help No. 9 Kentucky beat UAB 69-58
Fri Nov 29, 2019 10:39 PM

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards protected and attacked the rim as expected.

The upside for No. 9 Kentucky was how confidently the big men also shot jumpers, thanks in part to opportunities created by Ashton Hagans.

Richards and Montgomery each scored 16 points and combined for 17 rebounds, helping the Wildcats beat UAB 69-58 on Friday night.

The 6-foot-11 junior Richards made all seven shots from the field with several slams - including the game's opening basket that got the Wildcats (6-1) going - along with a couple of jumpers. Starting for the first time since the opener against top-ranked Michigan State, the 6-10 sophomore Montgomery posted a career high, going 7 of 13 from the field and giving Kentucky a strong post presence in its first game without injured starter Nate Sestina.

With Sestina out approximately four weeks after hurting a wrist on Tuesday, Kentucky will more require a lot more minutes and production from its frontcourt. Montgomery came back strong after missing three games earlier this month with a high ankle sprain.

"It's been good, I've been working on it," Montgomery said of his jumper. "It wasn't going down at first, but I'm not going to stop shooting. I'm going to continue to shoot and get better every day."

The Wildcats only trailed early in the game and steadily extended the lead. Richards had nine rebounds and Montgomery had eight with a block.

They played a lot together, but coach John Calipari also had them in different rotations with smaller lineups. Either way, they gave Kentucky the post depth it will need in the short and long term.

"It's tough when you've got eight guys," the coach said. "But if you're one of the eight, you're happy. And we'll have to keep this going until we get Nate back."

Immanuel Quickley and Ashton Hagans each added nine points as Kentucky shot 47% and controlled the glass 39-26 for its fourth consecutive win since being upset by Evansville on Nov. 12 when ranked No. 1. Hagans' 12 assists tied a career high and he committed just two turnovers.

Tyreek Scott-Grayson and Jalen Benjamin each scored 19 points for the Blazers (4-2), who shot 41% as their two-game winning streak ended.

Kentucky won all four games of the Big Blue Nation Showcase, a round-robin that also featured Utah Valley, Mount St. Mary's and Lamar.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Kentucky will stay in the top 10 and perhaps move up a spot with Duke's loss expected to shuffle the rankings.

BIG PICTURE

UAB: The Blazers' bright spots were 8 of 16 shooting from long range - including several down the stretch that whacked a 20-point lead - while being edged just 30-28 in the paint. But they couldn't contain Kentucky's tall tandem and couldn't top 41% shooting for the fourth consecutive game. UAB also shot just five three throws, making two.

"We were one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, and we only got eight," coach Robert Ehsen said. "When we did, their length extremely bothered us. Maybe more mentally than anything. They didn't block a whole lot of shots, but we missed and hurried because of their length and athleticism."

Kentucky: The Wildcats got a promising look at how Richards and Montgomery played together and in rotations with smaller lineups. They'll need more help inside from freshmen Kahlil Whitney and Keion Brooks as the schedule gets tougher, but this was a good start.

"Here's the greatest thing," Calipari said. "With Nate being out, they're both going to have their chances to do it."

UP NEXT

UAB faces another Power Five opponent on Tuesday at Texas before hosting No. 16 Memphis on Dec. 7.

Kentucky hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 7.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

UAB PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
T. Scott-Grayson 19 0 4 2 1 2
J. Benjamin 19 0 0 2 1 0
Kentucky PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
N. Richards 16 0 0 9 0 1
E. Montgomery 16 0 0 8 0 2

Team Comparison

UAB KY
Points For 58 69
Field Goals 24/58-41% 26/55-47%
Three Pointers 8/16-50% 5/15-33%
Free Throws 2/5-40% 12/16-75%
Offensive Rebounds 8 11
Defensive Rebounds 18 28
Rebounds 28 43
Blocks 3 3
Steals 3 2
Turnovers 12 12
Personal Fouls 18 13
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - KY Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Nov 29 UAB 58 @ KY 69 T. Scott-Grayson 19 N. Richards 16

Game Information

Stadium: Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, Lexington, Kentucky
Attendance: 20,401
Game Time: