Aaron Harrison leads UK past Robert Morris

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By Nick Gray | Sports editor

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Freshman guard Aaron Harrison scored 28 points to lead UK to an 87-49 victory over Robert Morris University on Sunday at Rupp Arena in the Cats’ first game after losing to No. 2 Michigan State University last Tuesday.

The Cats shot 49.1 percent from the floor in a rematch of last season’s NIT matchup, including five dunks on lob passes in a game that marked a program first.

No. 1 UK started five freshmen in the opening lineup for the first time in school history. Forward Marcus Lee replaced sophomore forward Willie Cauley-Stein as a starter, Lee’s first start of the year. UK head coach John Calipari said he made the change in order to win the opening tip and said Lee “panicked a little bit” at the beginning of the game.

Guards James Young, Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison, along with forward Julius Randle, filled out the rest of the starting five.

Randle finished with his fourth double-double in four games, adding 15 rebounds to his 10 points, his lowest point total of the season.

The Cats stormed out to a 17-2 lead via three three-point baskets by Aaron Harrison and a defense that did not allow a field goal in the first 8:36.

“I’m happy that we defended the way we did and rebounded the way we did,” Calipari said.

Aaron Harrison scored 19 points in the first half and hit 7-of-12 field goals along with all 10 free throws in the game, four days after a 1-for-7 performance Tuesday against Michigan State.

“It was a good feeling to get out of the little funk I was in,” Aaron Harrison said. “I was frustrated with myself (on Tuesday).”

Most of the 21,600 fans were in uproar at a traveling call at the end of the half that wiped out a cross-court shot by Andrew Harrison that he sank cleanly, originally producing a roar from the crowd.

One of three first-half lobs for dunks came from the hands of freshman guard Dominique Hawkins, who played 18 minutes, the most playing time he’s received this season. Hawkins scored four points, but his defense and energy was what stood out to Calipari.

“I have to stop him (in practice) because I’m afraid he’s going to fall out,” Calipari said.

UK made 15-of-27 shots in the second half to complete the rout, with Hawkins and the Cats’ defense limiting Robert Morris to 25 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes.

Both teams are a part of the Keightley Classic, along with the University of Texas at Arlington and Eastern Michigan University. UK will host the second game of the round-robin event at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday against UT-Arlington.