Postgame notes from Kentucky's loss vs. Michigan State

Kentucky’s momentum stalled out in Indianapolis at the Champions Classic, falling in double-overtime to Michigan State by a final score of 86-77.

How did the loss come together for the Wildcats? The postgame notes and stats tell some of the story. Check those out below, courtesy of UK Athletics.

---

Final Score: Michigan State 86, #4/4 Kentucky 77 (2OT)

Team Records and Series Notes

• Both teams are now 2-1.
• Kentucky leads the all-time series, 14-12, ending a two-game UK win streak. The teams are tied 4-4 in games played at neutral sites, with tonight being the first time the teams have met in Indianapolis.
• The Wildcats have a quick turnaround, playing South Carolina State on Thursday in Rupp Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. and it will be televised by the SEC Network.  

The Champions Classic

• UK is 5-7 in the Champions Classic, including 2-2 against Michigan State in the event.
• This is the fourth time that the event has been held in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and UK is 1-3 in those games.
• The matchups and game date have been set for the 2023 Classic – Nov. 14, 2023, in Chicago with UK playing Kansas and Michigan State taking on Duke. 

Team Notes

• The game featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes. 
• Kentucky is 63-52 all-time in overtime games, including 15-9 under Coach John Calipari.

Player Notes  

• Despite having a missed a month because of a knee injury, Oscar Tshiebwe played 34 minutes before fouling out and totaled 22 points and 18 rebounds.
  • It was his 17^th consecutive double-double, including the final 16 games of last season.
  • It was his eighth 20-15 game at UK, beginning with the 2021-22 season. 
• Freshman Cason Wallace had 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and a school-record-tying eight steals. Additional eight theft games:
  • Ashton Hagans on Dec. 22, 2018 vs North Carolina.
  • Rajon Rondo on Feb. 19, 2005 vs. Mississippi State.
  • Wayne Turner on Nov. 24, 1997 vs. George Washington. 
• Jacob Toppin contributed 10 points and four rebounds. 
• Sahvir Wheeler scored 16 points and led the Wildcats with eight assists. 

Coach John Calipari

• Calipari is 3-2 vs. Michigan State, including 2-2 at Kentucky.
• Calipari has an 812-242 all-time on-court record and a 367-102 mark at Kentucky.

In the First Half

• Kentucky has started Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin and Lance Ware for all three games.
• Oscar Tshiebwe, Antonio Reeves, Daimion Collins and Sahvir Wheeler were UK’s first substitutes at the 14:55 mark.
• Kentucky built what proved to be its largest lead of the game, 20-13, but an eight-point run by Michigan State put the Spartans back in the lead. 
• The teams battled evenly the rest of the way, but MSU scored the final five points for a 36-34 halftime lead. 
• Tshiebwe led Kentucky with 11 points and seven rebounds.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with Wheeler, Fredrick, Wallace, Toppin and Tshiebwe.
• MSU got the first three points of the second half, completing an 8-0 run for a 39-34 lead.
• Trailing 42-39, Wallace scored the last four points of a 7-0 spurt with an offensive rebound and basket, followed by a steal and fastbreak layup.
• Trailing 52-51, a driving Wheeler found Tshiebwe for a dunk with 6:25 to go – Kentucky never trailed again until the second overtime – and Fredrick picked a nice time for his first basket of the night, a 3-pointer from the left wing to put UK up 56-52 and coax an MSU timeout with 5:21 remaining. 
• Tied at 58, Toppin made the first of two free throws, with Tshiebwe grabbing the ORB and getting a layup for a 61-58 advantage. 
• At 61-60 with 15.4 seconds left, Wallace made the second of two free throws.
• MSU tied it at 62 on a dunk with 3.7 seconds remaining.

First Overtime

• Toppin opened the scoring with a pair of free throws with 4:31 remaining and a Wheeler 3-pointer a minute later opened a five-point advantage, 67-62, but MSU responded with five straight to tie it.
• Wheeler made a free throw and one of his driving underhand bankers to make it 70-67.
• MSU got a basket, then Tshiebwe fouled out on an illegal screen with 32 seconds left.
• UK forced a miss and Wallace was fouled with 7.6 seconds left, making the second free throw for a 71-69 count.
• MSU tied it on a dunk with 1.4 seconds remaining.

Second Overtime

• A Wheeler 3-pointer with 4:00 remaining put UK ahead 76-73 but Michigan State finished the game on a 13-1 run.
• An MSU dunk put the Spartans ahead 78-76 with 1:44 to go, their first lead since 6:25 remaining in regulation.