LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s 2,000th victory looked awfully familiar.
DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson scored 18 points apiece and the third-ranked Wildcats became the first team in NCAA history to reach the 2,000-win plateau with an 88-44 romp over Drexel on Monday night.
Kentucky improved to 2,000-635-1 in 107 seasons. North Carolina is next on the list with 1,992 wins while Kansas has 1,980.
“We weren’t a part of many of those 2,000 wins and we had a job to do and that was drag us across the line before that other blue team got there,” coach John Calipari said. “This is a special moment for this program and this state.”
The Wildcats did it in style, taking control early behind the play of Cousins, Patterson and superstar freshman John Wall to improve to 12-0.
Samme Givens led Drexel (6-6) with 11 points, but the Dragons shot just 31 percent from the field and spent most of the game as invited guests to Kentucky’s celebration.
The Wildcats shot 53 percent, outrebounded Drexel 45-22 and didn’t let up until the lead neared 50 midway through the second half.
Wall did a little bit of everything, finding Cousins for open baskets early as the Wildcats raced to a quick 15-3 lead, then showing his breathtaking ability in the open court as Kentucky pulled away.
He scored the last six points of the first half, all on layups, all with a relatively high degree of difficulty, including one in which he wrapped the ball behind his back from his left hand to his right hand at full speed before putting it in off the glass.
Confetti showered the court moments after the final buzzer while players donned black T-shirts commemorating the occasion.
No. 12 Kansas State 90, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 76
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Jacob Pullen had 18 points, Dominique Sutton added 14 and No. 12 Kansas State responded to its highest ranking in 36 years by defeating winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Monday night.
Curtis Kelly had 13 points, Denis Clemente and Jamar Samuels added 12 each and the Wildcats shot 50 percent for their eighth-consecutive win.
Local women
Seattle 57, Boise St. 47
BOISE, Idaho — Elle Kerfoot had a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards and Ashley Brown scored a team-high 18 points in Seattle’s loss.
Seattle Pacific 63, Chico State 44
BELLINGHAM — Daesha Henderson scored 13 points and tied her career high with seven steals as Seattle Pacific rolled past Chico State in its final game of the GNAC-CCAA Challenge women’s basketball tournament.
W. Washington 66, Sonoma State 58
BELLINGHAM — Tournament MVP Jessica Summers scored all of her team-high 17 points in the second half as Western Washington defeated Sonoma State in the GNAC-CCAA Challenge women’s basketball tournament.
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