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Instant Analysis | Kentucky-UT Arlington

Kyle Tucker
@KyleTucker_CJ
Kentucky forward Karl-Anthony Towns, back, blocks a shot by Montana State guard Michael Dison in the first half. 

The University of Kentucky Men's Basketball team hosted Montana State University, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014 at Rupp Arena in Lexington. 

Photo by Jonathan Palmer, Special to the CJ

So that was ridiculous. Top-ranked Kentucky blew the doors off UT Arlington in the first half here at Rupp Arena, leading 55-12 at the break. The Wildcats have held the Mavericks to 4-of-32 shooting and blocked eight shots. UTA went the final 7:12 without making a field goal (or scoring a point).

Five UK players already have at least six points, led by 12 from Devin Booker (who is 4 of 5 from 3-point range) and 11 by Aaron Harrison (who is 2 of 4 from deep). Freshman Karl-Anthony Towns is having a whale of a game: nine points, eight rebounds, three blocks, three assists and a steal in just 12 minutes. He's one of three Cats (Andrew Harrison and Tyler Ulis are the others) with three assists.

Here's how the two platoons performed in the first half. SPOILER: Very well.

UK'S TWO PLATOONS VS. UT ARLINGTON

Platoon 1 – 20:00 to 16:14, 8-3 UK lead (3-9 FG, 8-6 rebounds, 1 turnover, 8-3 margin in 3:46)

Platoon 2 – 16:14 to 14:32, 8-5 UK lead (0-0 FG, 1-0 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 0-2 margin in 1:42)

Platoon 1 – 14:32 to 9:23, 25-10 UK lead (7-9 FG, 5-4 rebounds, 0 turnovers, 17-5 margin in 5:09)

Platoon 2 – 9:23 to 5:05, 36-12 UK lead (3-5 FG, 6-3 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 11-2 margin in 4:18)

Platoon 1 – 5:05 to 2:32, 47-12 UK lead (3-5 FG, 5-2 rebounds, 0 turnovers, 11-0 margin in 2:33)

Platoon 2 – 2:32 to 0:00, 55-12 UK lead (3-3 FG, 2-0 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 8-0 margin in 2:32)

TOTALS: Platoon 1 outscored UTA 36-8, shot 13 of 23, outrebounded UTA 18-12, one turnover in 11:28. Platoon 2 outscored UTA 19-4, shot 6 of 8, outrebounded UTA 9-3, eight turnovers in 8:32.

* Alex Poythress, who missed the last two games with illness, was back starting with Platoon 1 but Trey Lyles subbed in for him at the 17:17 mark after Poythress passed on a chance to dunk and instead missed a reverse layup. Lyles also entered for Poythress just 82 seconds into Platoon 1's second rotation because Poythress picked up his second foul with 13:10 to go in the half. Devin Booker also swapped out for Lyles with Platoon 1 for about two minutes of the second rotation.

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