Jaxson Robinson is on FIRE as Kentucky leads MSU 49-44 at the half

Welcome to the show, Jaxson Robinson. You’ve been missed.

Coming in battling a bitter cold streak, the fifth-year senior played arguably his best half of basketball as a Wildcat, leading Kentucky with 16 points on 5-6 shooting and a blistering 4-5 from three while adding three rebounds and an assist. It’s been enough to give his team a 49-44 lead at the break in what has been a back-and-forth battle in Starkville.

Amari Williams has been excellent, as well, adding 10 points on 3-4 overall and 4-4 at the line to go with five rebounds and three assists. Otega Oweh has seven points and four rebounds, followed by Andrew Carr — a game-time decision entering the matchup — with a big five points and a board. Travis Perry, Lamont Butler and Koby Brea have added three apiece while Ansley Almonor has two, giving Kentucky eight players with at least one bucket.

As a team, the Cats are shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three compared to 44.4 percent overall and 18.8 percent from deep for the Bulldogs.

Josh Hubbard and Cameron Matthews — the two stars of the show for Mississippi State, have 10 points each to lead the way, followed by KeShawn Murphy with six, Riley Kugel and RJ Melendez with five and Claudell Harris Jr. and Michael Nwoko with four.

Check out the complete box score:

Excellent first half for the Cats in Starkville. More of that in the second, please.