By LARRY VAUGHT
Midway of the second half the fact that Kentucky basketball had raised almost $450,000 for charity by playing Morehead State was not the biggest thought on UK coach John Calipari’s mind.
Not with his team leading just 51-49 midway of the second half here Monday night. However, Kentucky soon took over the game thanks to a 15-3 surge sparked in large part by freshman point guard Quade Green and won 92-67.
“They posted us more than we posted them. They out rebounded us. They weren’t afraid. We needed this kind of game,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “Somebody said they were picked ninth in the league (Ohio Valley Conference). They are going to have four teams in the NCAA.
“If we had not turned them over, they may have beat us.”
The Eagles shot well from the field — 10-for-21 from 3-point range and 24-for-44 overall — but were doomed by 28 turnovers. Early in the game UK had 17 points off the Eagles’ turnovers to build a lead and Kentucky’s length and quickness continued to cause problems, especially when the Cats got into a full-court press. Kentucky finished with 30 points off turnovers.
“They are extremely long. They were flying around. Their length give anybody problems. We got away from some things we have been doing,” Morehead coach Preston Spradlin said. “We led our league in 3-point shooting last year. I like to recruit guys who shoot. I want to get good shots. I do not know if some shots we made were good shots but about the numbers we want. That is a really good number (shooting wise).”
Freshman Hamidou Diallo led Kentucky with 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field, including 2-for-4 from 3-point range.
“He shot 3’s and I took him out. He is going to drive the ball. That’s who he is. He will play that way — and I love him to death — or he won’t play that way,” Calipari said.
Kevin Knox had 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting.
“He could have done some more things,” Calipari said.
Green provided the need sparks both in the first and second half. He finished with 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field and 7-for-7 at the foul line. He also had five assists and just one turnover in 26 minutes.
“He is good. About what I would expect from a point guard here at Kentucky. They know what they are doing,” Spradlin said. “He’s good.”
Calipari said that was the best Green has played but he still has to learn to get rid of the ball quicker.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had a strong game with 17 points and was 8-for-10 at the foul line. He also pulled off four rebounds and had two assists.
Kentucky was 30-for-55 from the field but got outrebounded 30-25 by the smaller Eagles. Wenyen Gabriel led UK with six rebounds while Sacha Killeya-Jones had four and Alexander and Washington four apiece. But Knox, Diallo and center Nick Richards combined for just four rebounds and Richards did not have a board.
“We outrebounded them. Geez,” Spradlin said. “I would say they got a few more shots than us. That helped. We had 14 offensive rebounds. Morehead always has had great toughness on the boards. We are going to continue to hang our hats on that. But that’s a good stat certainly giving up the length and size that we do.”
Calipari thought his team stopped playing too often, something he expects from freshmen.
“We are still a ways away (conditioning wise),” Calipari said.
He also did not like that his team got outworked.
“Morehead fought. If you don’t fight back, it’s obvious. That’s what you learn here,” Calipari said. “Today was a great lesson in that.”
The Cats close exhibition play Friday night when it hosts Division III Centre College Friday at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.
“It’s better for Centre (than Kentucky),” Calipari said. “I am not afraid to leverage this program to help others. Why not leverage to help other people and other schools, especially when they are in-state.”
* * *
Tonight’s game amassed almost $450,000 in ticket sales for charity with attendance of nearly 15,000.
Photos are courtesy of Jeff Houchin Photography
