Talking points

Just as Auburn did, Tennessee took it right at Kentucky. The Vols built a 16-10 lead and were the aggressors. UK went on an 8-0 run to go up 28-25 at the 3:31 mark but UT scored the final nine points of the half to lead 34-28. With a spark from Jarnell Stokes (his first college game), UT surged to an eight-point lead. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went to work and his three-pointer gave UK a 58-54 lead. UK's defense tightened and the lead was 62-54 with 53 seconds left. A couple of UT three-pointers made it scary at the end, but a couple of Darius Miller free throws sealed it.

Telling numbers

■ It was 54-54 with 6:58 left. Tennessee would not score again until 37 seconds remained.

■ In the final 11 minutes of the first half, UK had one span of almost six minutes without a field goal and another run of 3:31 without a point.

■ UK did not make a three-pointer in the first half.

Thumbs up

■ Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis had more than half of UK's points and rebounds. Is this freshman combo better than Wall-Cousins?

■ UK's defense went into lockdown mode down the stretch.

Thumbs down

■ The lackluster starts are becoming a habit. UK is playing with fire.

■ Terrence Jones may have an NBA body but Jarnell Stokes — who was in high school in December — muscled him around.

■ The semester break was supposed to be when a young team would refine its game. Is UK better than it was a month ago?