Kentucky 90, Eastern Michigan 38: Kyle Wiltjer scored 14 of his team-high 17 points in the second half and Alex Poythress finished with 16 as the host Wildcats concluded non-conference play in convincing fashion.
Ryan Harrow had 15 points and eight assists and Willie Cauley-Stein collected 11 points and as many rebounds. Julius Mays added 13 points for Kentucky (9-4), which recorded its largest margin of victory since posting a 106-44 win over Vanderbilt on March 5, 2003.
Glenn Bryant had a team-high 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting for Eastern Michigan (7-6), which has dropped all five of its contests away from Ypsilanti.
After Bryant's jumper pulled the Eagles within six at 13-7, Wiltjer and Harrow drilled 3-pointers to highlight an 11-0 run. The Wildcats kept their foot on the gas, recording seven steals in the half to turn defense into offense en route to a 38-14 lead at intermission.
Wiltjer started the second half with a pair of 3-pointers and a dunk to highlight Kentucky's 15-0 run.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The 14 first-half points allowed by Kentucky matched its season-best total. It also permitted 14 en route to an 88-56 victory over Samford on Dec. 4. ... The Wildcats held a decided edge from the foul line in the first half. Kentucky was 12-for-16 from the charity stripe while the Eagles made their lone attempt. ... Eastern Michigan's Jalen Ross committed five of his team's 12 first-half turnovers.
Eastern Michigan | Kentucky | |
Glenn Bryant 10 | Scoring | Kyle Wiltjer 17 |
Jalen Ross 2 | Assists | Ryan Harrow 8 |
DaShonte Riley 9 | Rebounds | Nerlens Noel 13 |
J.R. Sims 2 | Free Throws Made | Alex Poythress 6 |
Daylen Harrison 2 | Steals | Ryan Harrow 4 |
Glenn Bryant 1 | Blocks | Nerlens Noel 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Eastern Michigan | 38 | 24.2 | 4-18 | 4-4 | 9 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 19 |
Kentucky | 90 | 51.7 | 10-26 | 18-24 | 21 | 48 | 6 | 9 | 15 |