Box Score: Kentucky hammers LSU with pace and space basketball

Mark Pope saw his Kentucky team get back to playing their style of basketball in a Senior Night thrashing on LSU. The Wildcats had gone 11 games without reaching the 90-point mark. That drought came to an end at Rupp Arena on Tuesday.

Kentucky played pace and space basketball against LSU. That led to 95 points in 75 possessions (1.27 points per possession). The final result was a 31-point win to set up a season finale clash against ranked Missouri on Saturday afternoon in Columbia.

The Wildcats shot 24-of-39 (61.5%) from two, 12-of-32 (37.5%) from three, and 11-of-11 (100%) from three. Turnovers (eight) were not an issue and the home team recorded 22 assists in the blowout win. Otega Oweh (24 points on 11 field goal attempts), Ansley Almonor (15 points on seven field goal attempts), Brandon Garrison (15 points on 12 field goal attempts), and Collin Chandler (11 points on eight field goal attempts) all finished the game in double figures. Kentucky got 43 points off the bench and that played a big part in the blowout victory. The Cats scored 38 points on dunks or lay-ups.

LSU scored 64 points in 72 possessions (0.89 points per possession) in the loss. Matt McMahon‘s team shot 20-of-36 (55.5%) from two, 6-of-22 (27.3%) from three, and 6-of-10 (60%) from the free throw line. Guarding without fouling and preventing three-pointers had been an issue for Kentucky over the last three games. That ended against LSU. The Tigers had a 22.2 percent turnover rate, and those ruined possessions turned into 18 points off turnovers for Kentucky’s offense.

Kentucky jumped on LSU from the start and had the lead up to 38 points with 10 minutes left in the game. This one was over from the jump. The Wildcats looked the part of a potential No. 3 seed in the Senior Night victory.

BOX SCORE: Kentucky vs. LSU