Dec. 23, 2009

Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Long Beach State gave No. 3 Kentucky all it could handle Wednesday afternoon but eventually the Wildcats depth and inside presence proved too much for the 49ers in an 86-73 Kentucky win at Rupp Arena in front of 24,288.

The Beach (6-6) battled the Wildcats to a draw for most of the first 30 minutes. LBSU had the game tied with just over 13 minutes to play and trailed by just eight with 10 minutes to play. Kentucky (13-0) outscored the 49ers 35-22 in the final 13 minutes to claim the win. A big part of the Kentucky run came at the free throw line, where the Wildcats shot 18 free throws in the second half compared to just six for The Beach.

Stephan Gilling and Larry Anderson led Long Beach State with 15 points each. T.J. Robinson added 13 points and 15 rebounds, but made just 5-of-18 shots thanks to Kentucky's defense around the basket where the Wildcats blocked eight shots. Eugene Phelps chipped in 11 points and seven boards, while Casper Ware had a game-high eight assists.

Kentucky's post players led the way for the Wildcats. Patrick Patterson scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while DeMarcus Cousins had 15 points and 10 boards. Freshman John Wall had 19 points, five assists and four steals, while Eric Bledsoe had 11 points and five assists.

Long Beach State matched Kentucky in the first half going into the break tied at 31. The Beach committed just four turnovers and held its own on the boards getting out-boarded by just one, 22-21, in the first half.

The Beach struggled from the field in the first half from the field, making just 37.1 percent of its shots in the first half. Gilling helped the 49ers stay even with the Wildcats canning 3-of-6 threes. Robinson had nine first half boards.

LBSU finished making 41.2 of its shots, while Kentucky connected on 44.6 percent. The Wildcats won the battle of the boards 45-38 and only committed nine turnovers in the game.