LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky used a late first-half run to gain some separation over Lamar University and held on to that lead for a 81-56 victory Sunday evening at Rupp Arena. The setback is just the second loss of the season as the Cards head to Birmingham, Ala., with a 4-2 (.667) record.
 
The Cardinals started slow offensively and finished the night 21-of-64 (.328) from the field, but 7-of-17 (.412) from three-point range. After being outrebounded by 11 in the opening half, the Cardinals managed to trim that deficit by the end of the game being outrebounded by only seven, 41-34.
 
The Wildcats were 29-of-57 (.509) from the field, including 10 three-pointers on the night. Kentucky was led by Tyrese Maxey's 21 points.  
 
Sophomore Davion Buster led the Cardinals with 19 points on 5-of-11 (.455) shooting from beyond the arc but spent a majority of the first half on the bench with early foul trouble, which is the time that Kentucky made its run. Buster was one of three Cardinals in double figures as junior Avery Sullivan added a double-double (11 points and 13 rebounds) – his second in as many games – and senior T.J. Atwood chipped in 10.
 
The game didn't start well for the Red and White as the UofK opened the game on a 10-0 run, but the Cardinals had an answer. After calling a timeout, Atwood finally got the Cardinals on the board with a basket at the 16:28 mark. The made jumper sparked a 12-5 run to trim the deficit to three, 15-12, on V.J. Holmes' layup. The run was also aided by three Buster triples as the Cardinals pulled even following another Holmes basket with 7:42 remaining in the half, 19-19.
 
Unfortunately for Big Red, Buster was called for his second foul shortly after LU hit the equalizing basket and went to the sideline. Kentucky took advantage of LU's second-leading scorer being on the bench to rattle off 20-0 run to build a double-digit lead heading into the locker room.
 
The Cardinals managed just 9-of-31 (.290) from the field in the opening half and got outrebounded by the much taller Kentucky squad, 25-14. The key stat in the game was in the foul column. Shortly after the Cardinals pulled even at 19, Buster picked up his second personal foul and was forced to the bench for the remainder of the half. Buster's trip to the sideline coincided with Kentucky's 20-0 run.
 
Kentucky finished the opening half shooting 16-of-33 (.438) from the field and converted 7-of-16 (.438) three-point attempts.
 
The Cardinals began to fight their way back into the contest early in the second half. Following two three-pointers from freshman Ayaan Sohail and another from Buster, followed by a tough basket in traffic from Sullivan the Cardinals trimmed the lead to 16, 55-39, with just under 11 to play. The deficit was cut to 14 after Atwood ripped a rebound away from Kentucky and knocked down an open layup but that was as close as Big Red was able to make it down the stretch.
 
The Cardinals now turn their attention to Alabama-Birmingham for the third leg of their four-game non-conference road swing. The game against UAB will tip off at 7 p.m. from Bartow Arena.