Explosive first half leads UK basketball
to blowout 85-47 win over Penn State

(Box Score)

University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari was frustrated with his team’s performance in the first half of their first two games of the season. The Wildcats didn’t have that problem Saturday.

UK exploded for a 47-15 lead at halftime of its 85-47 win over Penn State in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Uncasville, Conn. UK shot 53.6 percent from the field in the first half and held Penn State to just 16.2 percent shooting.

Sophomore guard Doron Lamb led UK with 17 first-half points and finished with 26 points in the game. Freshman forward Kyle Wiltjer scored 12 points in the first half and finished with 19 points in the game.

UK improved to 3-0 on the season and will play the winner of the Old Dominion and South Florida game on Sunday at noon in the tournament championship game.

Sophomore forward Terrence Jones added 15 points and nine rebounds in the game. Freshman forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and freshman point guard Marquis Teague each scored nine points in the game.

UK shot 52.8 percent (28-53) from the field in the game and held Penn State to 26.9 percent (18-67) shooting. UK was 10-20 from three-point range and converted 19-29 free throws. After turning the ball over 12 times in the first half versus Kansas Tuesday, UK turned the ball over just 10 times against Penn State.

File photo by Jon Hale.