Kentucky physical in victory

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NO. 15 KENTUCKY 80, MISSISSIPPI STATE 72

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Nick Richards scored a career-high 27 points, Immanuel Quickley added 21 and No. 15 Kentucky beat Mississippi State 80-72 on Tuesday night for its 14th consecutive victory over the Bulldogs.

Seeking to regroup after last weekend’s 75-66 loss at No. 11 Auburn, the Wildcats (17-5, 7-2 SEC) never trailed and led by 14 points midway through the second half. They were quicker and more physical against the Bulldogs, outscoring them 38-34 in the lane and drawing fouls. They made 31 of 36 free throws.

The Bulldogs (14-8, 5-4) got within 64-59 with 2:36 remaining, but Richards and Quickley closed the victory by combining to make 14 free throws. The Wildcats shot 44.4% from the field.

After totaling seven points and seven rebounds Saturday, Richards bounced back by making 7 of 10 from the field and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Quickley made 14 from the line to offset 3-of-11 shooting. EJ Montgomery added 12 points to score in double figures for the first time in four games and had eight rebounds, his highest total since grabbing 10 against Utah in December.

D.J. Stewart Jr. and Robert Woodard II each had 15 points and Reggie Perry 14 points for Mississippi State, which outrebounded Kentucky 40-37 and shot 36.8%.

In other games involving SEC teams, John Fulkerson scored a career-high 22 points, Jordan Bowden had 20 and Tennessee (13-9, 5-4) rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Alabama (12-10, 4-5) 69-68 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Volunteers trailed 39-24 late in the first half before working their way back into the game. It was the biggest deficit Tennessee has overcome in a victory since rallying from 16 points down in a 2017 victory over the Tide. Santiago Vescovi blocked Jaylen Forbes’ potential tying shot with 5 seconds left and was fouled, making both free throws to put the game away. Kira Lewis Jr. hit a three-pointer at the buzzer and scored 19 points for Alabama (12-10, 4-5), which has lost three consecutive . ... Josh Nebo scored 18 points and Texas A&M (11-10, 5-4 SEC) defeated Missouri (10-12, 2-7) 68-51 in College Station, Texas. Four minutes into the second half, Missouri closed to 30-29 before the Aggies outscored the Tigers 13-2 in a four-minute span. In that time, A&M guard Quenton Jackson made a three-pointer, collected a dunk and sank three of four free throws.