Big Blues: Kentucky falls to 5-12

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     It was like deja vu all over again for the Kentucky Wildcats, this time dropping two more contests to Missouri and Tennessee as problematic, late-game situations once again upended the Wildcats.
      Kentucky falls to 5-12 overall as the season no one saw coming continues. The Wildcats put together a decent second half effort versus 18th ranked Missouri on Feb. 3 before falling apart in in final four minutes to fall 75-70. Pendleton County product Dontaie Allen managed just seven minutes (all in the first half) and was scoreless. His absence from the game drew questions towards head coach John Calipari following the loss to which he responded that he simply liked what he saw from the group that he saw during the second half and wanted to ride them for the duration of the game. Kentucky shot 60 percent from the field in the second half, but multiple opportunities for the sharp-shooting local star to impact the game were available but not used by the coaching staff.
      On Feb. 6, Kentucky hosted Tennessee in a must-win situation for the Wildcats, but it turned into a wasted opportunity as Tennessee rallied from 10 points down at halftime to win 82-71. The Wildcats made just four field goals in the final 12 minutes of play as Tennessee accomplished something that it hasn’t done since the 1976-77 season--win back-to-back games in Rupp Arena.
      Dontaie Allen logged 19 minutes of action and finished with three points. Sophomore forward Keion Brooks posted his best performance to date as he went for 23 points and 11 rebounds.
    This week, the Wildcats will face Arkansas on Feb. 9 and Auburn on Feb. 13.