Missouri Tigers vs Kentucky Wildcats Match Player Stats On Jan 04, 2020

No. 17 Kentucky, the preseason pick to win the Southeastern Conference, took the first step toward that goal with a 71-59 victory over visiting Missouri in Lexington, Ky., in the league opener for both teams.

The Wildcats, winners of a conference-best 48 SEC titles, got 21 points and 12 rebounds from junior forward Nick Richards and 23 points off the bench from sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley. It was career-best for Quickley and the sixth double-double of the season for Richards.

It was Richards who carried Kentucky (10-3, 1-0 SEC) early, scoring his team's first nine points until nearly the midway point of the first half. By halftime, Richards had 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with eight rebounds.

Richards and Quickley also were integral in Kentucky grabbing control of the game with a 12-0 run midway through the first half. Trailing 17-9 with 10:22 to play, Kentucky got five points from Richards and a 3-pointer from Quickley to spark the run to go up 21-17 with 7:38 to play. The Wildcats were never threatened after that.

Missouri, No. 1 in the SEC in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense, held Kentucky to 41.7 percent shooting. However, Kentucky, the No. 1 free-throw shooting team in the conference at 79.0 percent, made 27 of 30. Quickley, who leads the SEC at 94.9 percent, made all nine tries. The Wildcats outscored Missouri 27-11 from the foul line.

Ashton Hagans, tops in the SEC at 7.3 assists per game, had seven assists. Kentucky also won the rebounding battle, 36-31.

Kentucky's defense limited Missouri to 36.2 percent shooting, including 6 of 18 from 3-point range.

Guard Dru Smith was the only player for Missouri (8-5, 0-1) in double figures with 11 points. Freshman Kobe Brown added nine.

--Field Level Media