Desperation oozed from Kentucky because it took the court docket contained in the SJB Pavilion in Oxford, Miss. on Tuesday night time, because it was tangled up 32-32 with the peckish Ole Miss Rebels, who had misplaced 9 of their final 10 video games.
The Wildcats entered the matchup straight on the NCAA Event bubble, unable to afford a loss to a group that entered the sport ranked No. 114 within the NET with only one victory in SEC play.
Up stepped capturing guard Antonio Reeves, who sparked Kentucky’s offense with a season-high 27 factors, pacing the undermanned Cats to a 75-66 victory, their third in a row away from residence.
Reeves related on six 3-pointers, capturing 8-12 total. It is the seventh straight recreation that the Illinois State switch has scored 10 or extra factors, and the fifth time within the final eight video games that the newfound main scoring possibility has led UK (15-7, 6-3 SEC) in factors.
Ahead Jacob Toppin continued to assist on the offensive finish, scoring 18 factors whereas including 4 rebounds and three assists. Heart Oscar Tshiebwe earned the forty first double-double of his profession, piling on 14 factors and 11 rebounds.
Each bucket was helpful, because the Wildcats entered the sport with out beginning guard Cason Wallace. With lower than an hour till tipoff, Wallace was dominated out because of a knee damage, which was later labeled a contusion by coach John Calipari. Wallace had beforehand suffered from again spasms, popping out after taking part in simply eight minutes in UK’s loss to South Carolina on Jan. 10, however Tuesday was the primary time that the Wildcats needed to play with out the Dallas native within the beginning 5.
The lack of Wallace spelled catastrophe early for Kentucky, as a 7-0 run propelled the Rebels to a 15-8 lead. UK adjusted and went on a 14-2 run of its personal, paced by Reeves’ first three 3-pointers of the night time. Ole Miss (9-13, 1-8) would go on a stretch through which it missed 13 of 14 pictures, however the Cats had been unable to construct any strong lead within the half.
Former starter and veteran facilitator Sahvir Wheeler was inserted again within the beginning 5 on account of Wallace’s absence, seeking to make the most of his added minutes. He would battle by a rolled ankle that noticed him exit to the locker room close to the top of the primary half, finally totaling 33 minutes, dispensing 9 assists and only one turnover. He scored 4 factors and picked up 4 rebounds within the win.
Wheeler now has 31 video games at UK through which he is totaled six or extra assists — essentially the most by any participant within the Calipari period, breaking a tie with Tyler Ulis, per UK Sports activities Community Statistician Corey Worth.
After slugging by the primary half and the start of the second, Reeves asserted his dominance, reigning down a trio of treys, whereas Tshiebwe and Toppin mixed for 21 factors within the again half, serving to the Wildcats slowly yank the chain away from the spunky Rebels, who continued to maintain the UK lead no bigger than 14.
Kentucky continued its improved free-throw capturing, going 19-23 from the charity stripe. It additionally re-found its groove on the glass, out-rebounding the Rebels 33-29. Amaree Abram led Ole Miss with 17 factors, taking on for main scorer Matthew Murrell, who was one in every of two Rebels that missed Tuesday night time’s contest.
Taking pictures guard CJ Fredrick was once more nullified for the Cats after scoring simply two factors over the weekend in opposition to Kansas. He tried simply two pictures on Tuesday, failing to attain whereas selecting up three fouls and only one help. Freshman ahead Chris Livingston would foul out after including a gritty six factors and 7 rebounds.
UK will return residence to Rupp Enviornment, the place it should host the Florida Gators for the primary of two matchups down the ultimate stretch of the common season. Tipoff on Saturday, Feb. 4 is about for 8:30 p.m. EST
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