After trailing by three at the half, No. 14 Kentucky got going in the final 20 minutes to blow out Mississippi State, 85-63. Freshman James Young matched a career-high with 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double.
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State final score: Wildcats roll in second half, 85-63
James Young scored 26 for Kentucky, which began SEC play with a win.
Andy Lyons
Aside from Young's output, Kentucky rolled behind its dominance of the offensive glass. The Wildcats snagged 17 offensive boards, five from Young and six from fellow freshman Julius Randle.
Mississippi State couldn't establish any presence in the paint, allowing seven of their shots to be blocked by Kentucky's athletic frontcourt. Alex Poythress led the way with three blocks.
Kentucky begins SEC play with a win as the team attempts to climb its way back into the AP top 10. The Wildcats have road games in the next week against Vanderbilt and Arkansas. With competition fairly slim in the SEC this season, the Wildcats won’t have to play an opponent that is currently ranked until Feb.1, when they take on No. 21 Missouri.
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