Kentucky Cruises Past Dominican Republic on Wednesday

NASSAU, Bahamas – Defending nationwide participant of the 12 months Oscar Tshiebwe scored 17 factors and grabbed six rebounds as Kentucky cruised previous the Dominican Republic Nationwide Choose Workforce 108-56 on Wednesday evening in exhibition basketball motion at Baha Mar Resort.

Tshiebwe led six Kentucky gamers who scored in double figures within the win. Sophomore Daimion Collins had 15 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists within the win, whereas freshman Cason Wallace had 15 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists.

Antonio Reeves had 12 factors for UK, whereas Chris Livingston and Lance Ware every had 11.

Kentucky made 42 of its 74 photographs from the ground (56.8 p.c) from the ground within the sport, together with 11 of 26 (42.3 p.c) from behind the arc. The Cats additionally made 13 of their 14 free throws (92.9 p.c) within the contest.

Kentucky acquired on the board first on a pair of Toppin free throws. The Dominican Republic would take a 3-2 lead on a 3 from Justin Minaya however the Cats would rating the subsequent seven factors, on a basket by Collins, a 3 from Reeves and a hook shot by Tshiebwe to seize a 9-3 benefit.

The Dominican Republic would rating the subsequent 4 however the Cats would reply with a 6-2 run, capped by a Lance Ware dunk, to steer 15-8 with 12:50 left within the first half.

After Minaya hit a 3 to chop the UK result in 15-11, the Cats went on an 8-2 run, keyed by a Reeves three and a Collins baseline dunk and subsequent free throw, to present UK a 23-13 benefit with 8:43.

The Cats would lead by as many as 20 within the first half and would take a 43-25 lead into the break. Reeves led all scorers with 9 factors within the first half, whereas Ware and Wallace every had six factors.

Within the second half, the Cats picked up proper the place they left off within the first 20 minutes. Kentucky acquired a 3 from Chris Livingston and dunks from Ware, Collins and Wallace to increase the result in 52-25.

Kentucky would lead by 33 (64-31) on a 3 by Livingston and the lead would hover round that quantity for the subsequent seven minutes. However UK would mount a 9-0 run, capped by a pair of Tshiebwe dunks, to increase the result in 86-47 with 6:41 to play.

The onslaught continued late, as Kentucky closed the sport on a 12-2 run, together with scoring the ultimate eight factors of the sport, to shut out the straightforward victory.

Kentucky returns to motion on Thursday, dealing with Tec de Monterrey on the Baha Mar Resort in Nassau. Tipoff is ready for 7 p.m. ET and the sport will be seen on the SEC Community.