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Tyrese Maxey scores 21 points, No. 9 Kentucky routs Lamar

Lamar Kentucky Basketball

Kentucky head coach John Calipari, right, instructs Ashton Hagans, left, and Tyrese Maxey (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Lamar in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

AP

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points and No. 9 Kentucky made a season-high 10 3-pointers in an 81-56 victory over Lamar on Sunday night.

Maxey made a career-high four 3-pointers against, surpassing three he made in the Wildcats’ opening victory over Michigan State.

Ashton Hagans added 15 points for Kentucky (5-1). Immanuel Quickley had 11, and Nick Richards added 10 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Davion Buster led Lamar (4-2) with 19 points.

Kentucky opened and closed the first half in impressive fashion. The Wildcats raced to a 15-0 lead and closed with a 22-2 run. The scoring spree came after the Cardinals tied it 19 with 8:52 remaining.

Maxey sparked the decisive spree with four 3-pointers and led the Wildcats with 12 points in the half. Lamar managed just one field goal in the final 8 minutes.

Avery Sullivan added 11 for the Cardinals, and followed with 11 and T.J. Atwood added 10.

MEMPHIS CONNECTION

Lamar coach Tic Price coached at Memphis for two seasons from 1997-99 and was replaced by Kentucky’s John Calipari. Price went 30-27 in two seasons, while Calipari compiled a 214-68 record in his nine-year tenure with the Tigers.

BIG PICTURE

Kentucky: The Wildcats have struggled from the 3-point line this season and had made just 19 in the first five games, including seven in the past two contests. Kentucky surpassed that mark with seven 3-pointers in the first half against the Cardinals. Kentucky made it hard for Lamar in the paint and had 13 blocks, with Richards and EJ Montgomery combining for 10 of those.

Lamar: The Cardinals are in the midst of four straight road games, including three in a seven-day span. Lamar returns home on Dec. 7 and will take on Rice, before closing the calendar year with three road games. Lamar fell to 0-4 overall against the Wildcats. The Cardinals shot just 33% from the field and made just 21 of 64 field goals.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Kentucky has racked up three straight victories, including two straight blowouts, since a 67-64 loss to Evansville on Nov. 12. The Wildcats figure to remain No. 9.

UP NEXT

Lamar: At UAB on Tuesday night.

Kentucky: Hosts UAB on Friday night.