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The Kentucky Wildcats entered the SEC Tournament needing to win 4 games in 4 days to make the NCAA Tournament as they faced the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The game got off to a rough start as Kentucky missed six of their first seven shots and Mississippi State made just two of their first seven resulting in a 5-5 tie at the first media timeout.
Mississippi State then began to bully the Cats in the post as they built an 11-6 lead with just over 13 minutes to play.
Kentucky would cut the lead to 13-11 by the under 12 media timeout but things then began to take a bad swing.
The Bulldogs went back to the well time after time and extended their lead to 23-14 with just over 8 minutes to play.
That trend continued down the stretch of the first half as the Bulldogs scored 36 first half points in the paint to take a 44-30 lead into the break.
The second half got off to a great start for Kentucky as they started 4/5 from the field. The problem is the Bulldogs also went 4/5 as they led it 55-41.
Dontaie Allen would go on a quick 7-0 run himself to cut the lead to 55-48 forcing Mississippi State to call a timeout.
The Bulldogs temporarily answered the Cats’ run and held 60-50 lead at the under 12 media timeout.
However, the Cats weren’t going to go away as Allen continued his hot shooting lead Kentucky on another run to cut the lead to 62-60 at the under 8 media timeout.
Keion Brooks tied the game at the free throw line and after a Bulldogs’ basket, Allen drilled another three to give Kentucky the 65-64 lead.
The Cats would build a 71-66 lead with 4 min to go. Unfortunately, they couldn’t build on it, as Mississippi State stormed back to take a 72-71 lead.
Trailing 74-73 with 7 seconds to play, Allen got a great look at a three to win it, but it didn’t fall as the Cats lose their first game of the SEC Tournament ending their season.
Here is what Twitter had to say about what was likely the final game of the 2020-21 season for the Cats.
One year ago it all ended right here.
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 11, 2021
Today we’ve got an opportunity to start anew. pic.twitter.com/lk5VG9UCbw
One game. Four times.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) March 11, 2021
It’s actually comical how nervous I get in March watching the Cats.
— Dad of Queens (@jrasmussbbn) March 11, 2021
Davion Mintz loves the transition 3
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) March 11, 2021
If there were a NCAA Tournament for missing layups.....
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 11, 2021
So the “Terrence Clarke was never injured” crowd is saying what now?
— Big Blue Express (@bigbluexpress) March 11, 2021
Seems like everybody has more of a bounce in their step since Clarke entered the lineup.
— John Huang (@KYHuangs) March 11, 2021
One team can make layups the other cant lmao
— Eric Murphy (@emurphy24) March 11, 2021
Put Jackson in and worry about fouls later or go ahead and get on the bus.
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) March 11, 2021
If you refuse to play Isaiah Jackson with two fouls, it won't even matter by the time he re-enters the game in the second half.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) March 11, 2021
Calipari puts Dontaie Allen back in and sources tell me he whispered, "Run the 7 of 11 from 3 play."
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 11, 2021
They know their season is over with a loss, right?
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) March 11, 2021
Abdul Ado vs. Kentucky https://t.co/h4LWT2znZJ
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) March 11, 2021
So foul trouble doesn’t matter if the game is too far gone. College coaches get paid a ton of money to get this wrong daily.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) March 11, 2021
Wow @UKCoachCalipari & @KentuckyMBB need a turn / around big time vs Miss St as they r 14 down at the half . Will the Cats pack the uniforms today or do they have a miracle ready to happen ?
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 11, 2021
The game is on pace for 70+ possessions and UK is taking care of the ball (8% turnover rate), but they are just getting slaughtered at the rim. Hard to fathom just how bad that 1H was on the defensive end.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) March 11, 2021
Cal yelling "Get a rebound, Isaiah" from the bench. Jackson has 0 rebounds today.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) March 11, 2021
Dontaie was born to torch Mississippi State
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) March 11, 2021
ALLEN HAS WHOLE STATE STANDING UP
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) March 11, 2021
In the words of @LgndsATraining - “You have one job...you better do it well.”
— Travis Graf (@TravisGraf_) March 11, 2021
Dontaie Allen is doing his one job today. Such a weapon when he’s locked in
Brutal season ends in a brutal way.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) March 11, 2021
Was the right shot. Didn't go in.
— The Kentucky Logo (@TheKentuckyLogo) March 11, 2021
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) March 11, 2021
Kentucky led 71-66 with 3:11 to play. They lose 74-73. Story of the season.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) March 11, 2021
Kentucky finishes the season 9-16. Devastating.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) March 11, 2021
Cats scored 2 points in the final 4:30. Snapshot of the 2020-21 season.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) March 11, 2021
Terrence Clarke hadn't played since Dec. 26 and he still scored more points (2) than BJ Boston and Devin Askew combined (0).
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) March 11, 2021
Silver lining - that won’t help his draft stock https://t.co/V2LjdqTf3k
— John Robic's Hair (@JohnRobicsHair) March 11, 2021
It feels so silly that we're sitting here breaking down anything about the Mississippi State game plan. All that matters today is the big picture for Kentucky.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 11, 2021
This was an abject disaster of a season. How will you fix it?
Final pic.twitter.com/WxbXmcyo05
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 11, 2021
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