Meeks, Kentucky beat UNLV in rare NIT appearance
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| Team Stat Comparison |
|
UNLV |
KENTUCKY |
| Points |
60 |
70 |
| FG Made-Attempted |
21-54 (.389) |
26-52 (.500) |
| 3P Made-Attempted |
10-33 (.303) |
6-16 (.375) |
| FT Made-Attempted |
8-14 (.571) |
12-17 (.706) |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) |
16 (0/0) |
11 (0/0) |
| Largest Lead |
7 |
20 |
Associated Press
Fast Facts
• The Wildcats improved to 4-0 all-time vs. UNLV as they won in their first NIT game since 1979.
• Kentucky snapped a two-game losing streak, while UNLV lost their fifth straight road game and third overall.
• Jodie Meeks led the Wildcats with 19 points. His 817 points this season are the second best single season total in Kentucky history (record is 948 by Dan Issel in 1969-70).
-- ESPN research
LEXINGTON, Ky. --
Jodie Meeks scored 19 points and
Patrick Patterson added 16 as Kentucky got past UNLV 70-60 Tuesday night in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament, the first NIT appearance in three decades for a Wildcats team accustomed to bigger stages in March.
If there was lingering disappointment after the Wildcats snapped a 17-year streak of appearing in the NCAA tournament, it didn't show on the court.
Kentucky (21-13) scrambled for every loose ball, building a 20-point lead midway through the second half then weathering a late surge by UNLV (21-11) to advance to the next round against the winnner of Creighton and Bowling Green.
With Rupp Arena unavailable due to a scheduling conflict, Kentucky played a game at Memorial Coliseum for the first time since 1976.
Wink Adams led the Rebels with 14 points.
UNLV 60, 
Kentucky 70