Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - Julius Mayes led the way with 24 points,
including eight points in the extra session, as the Kentucky Wildcats
outlasted the Missouri Tigers in overtime, 90-83, in SEC action at Rupp Arena.
For the Wildcats (19-8, 10-4 SEC), Alex Poythress added 21 points, Archie
Goodwin scored 18 points and Ryan Harrow netted 16 points. Willie Cauley-Stein
pulled down 12 rebounds and blocked seven shots for the hosts.
Phil Pressey led all scorers with 27 points for the Tigers (19-8, 8-6), while
Laurence Bowers chipped in with 13 points and Alex Oriakhi posted a double-
double with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Pressey also handed out 10 assists and
swiped four steals.
Both teams struggled in the first half. Missouri shot just 36.8 percent from
the field, but it pulled down 12 offensive rebounds, which helped give it a
35-31 lead at the break. Kentucky shot 39.3 percent from the field, including
just 2-of-10 from beyond the 3-point arc. After trailing by 13 with just under
five minutes to play in the half, the Wildcats ended the period on a 16-3 run
to close the gap.
The teams traded leads early in the second half, but the Wildcats took control
midway through and maintained that lead until the final minutes. A late run by
Missouri gave it a 75-73 lead with 57 seconds left. A Cauley-Stein layup with
41 seconds remaining knotted the score at 75-75 and the game went into
overtime.
In the extra session, the Tigers had the early lead, but the Wildcats pulled
away late, knocking down 11-of-14 from the free-throw line to secure the
victory.
Missouri outscored Kentucky in the paint, 50-42. The Wildcats finished with a
23-12 scoring advantage at the free-throw line.
GAME NOTES:
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