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Antonio Reeves leads No. 8 Kentucky to 96-70 win over Illinois State, his former team

AP
Dec 30, 2023

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Antonio Reeves scored 27 points to lead No. 8 Kentucky to a 96-70 win over Illinois State on Friday night.

Playing its first game since a 95-76 win over rival Louisville on Dec. 21, Kentucky (10-2) made 11 3-pointers - four by Reeves - and got 36 points from its bench. Reeves scored 30 points in Kentucky’s win over Louisville.

“Just being able to play with them on the same floor is just everything for me, being able to go out there for the last year and play against our teammates. It’s just it’s a great feeling,” he said.

Reeves began his career at Illinois State where he scored 1,195 points from 2019-22. He scored 12 points in the first half and his 3-pointer at the 5:35 mark of the first half gave the Wildcats their first double-digit lead, one that held for the remainder of the contest.

“Antonio didn’t just shoot it - he got to the rim when we needed it,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.

Calipari also praised Reeves’ performance on the defensive end.

“He was guarding their best player,” Calipari said. “Last year, he would guard their worst player and we hoped he had black socks on that guy, because now he’s our best perimeter defender.”

Rob Dillingham followed Reeves with 16 points, D.J. Wagner scored 14 and Reed Sheppard finished with 11.

Calipari wasn’t happy with his team’s rebounding. Despite being outsized in the post, the Redbirds outrebounded the Wildcats 45-40 and grabbed 24 offensive rebounds.

“(We did) a lot of good, but (giving up) 24 offensive rebounds, you’re not going to win games in our league … I can’t remember one of my teams in 15 years giving up 24 offensive rebounds,” Calipari said. “We didn’t go get any balls. We got a few, but not like they did. That’ll concern me. But we got time.”

The Wildcats were without sophomore Adou Thiero who sat out because of “general soreness” in his back and is listed as day-to-day. Freshman center Zvonomir Ivisic, awaiting clearance from the NCAA on his eligibility, returned to Croatia during the Christmas break and was granted extra time to spend with his family.

Myles Foster led Illinois State (8-5) with 20 points. Malachi Poindexter and Darius Burford each had 13 and Dalton Banks finished with 11.

BIG PICTURE

Kentucky: Since dropping an 80-73 decision to UNC-Wilmington on Dec. 2, the Wildcats have reeled off four straight victories and will open the Southeastern Conference schedule at Florida on Jan. 6. Calipari moved to within three wins of clinching his 400th victory as coach of the Wildcats.

Illinois State: The Redbirds will shift focus to the Missouri Valley Conference schedule. They won their first two league contests with wins over Northern Kentucky and Murray State. Illinois State fell to 0-2 in games played against the Wildcats.

NEXT UP

Kentucky at Florida on Jan. 6.

Illinois State at Drake on Tuesday.

---

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
ILST
Redbirds
30
UK
Wildcats
45

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Kendall Lewis vs. Aaron Bradshaw (Redbirds gains possession)
19:52		Malachi Poindexter misses three point jump shot
19:50		Kendall Lewis offensive rebound
19:41	+2	Kendall Lewis makes two point layup	2-0
19:41		Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Kendall Lewis draws the foul)
19:41	+1	Kendall Lewis makes regular free throw 1 of 1	3-0
19:32		D.J. Wagner turnover (Dalton Banks steals)
19:23		Tre Mitchell blocks Kendall Lewis's two point layup
19:21		Darius Burford offensive rebound
19:06		Dalton Banks misses two point jump shot
19:04		Dalton Banks offensive rebound
18:54		Darius Burford misses two point jump shot
18:52		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
18:43	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists)	3-2
18:17		Malachi Poindexter turnover (Justin Edwards steals)
18:09	+2	Justin Edwards makes two point layup (Antonio Reeves assists)	3-4
17:55	+2	Myles Foster makes two point layup (Dalton Banks assists)	5-4
17:31	+3	Justin Edwards makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists)	5-7
17:12	+2	Myles Foster makes two point layup	7-7
16:50	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point layup	7-9
16:23	+3	Myles Foster makes three point jump shot (Dalton Banks assists)	10-9
16:07		Antonio Reeves misses two point layup
16:05		Myles Foster defensive rebound
15:49	+3	Dalton Banks makes three point jump shot	13-9
15:40		Malachi Poindexter blocks Aaron Bradshaw's two point layup
15:40		Malachi Poindexter defensive rebound
15:40		Malachi Poindexter misses three point jump shot
15:26		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
15:18		Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot
15:16		Kendall Lewis defensive rebound
14:54		Myles Foster turnover (Justin Edwards steals)
14:47		Darius Burford personal foul
14:47		TV timeout
14:46	+2	Rob Dillingham makes two point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists)	13-11
14:23		Kendall Lewis turnover (traveling)
14:06		Aaron Bradshaw misses two point jump shot
14:04		Darius Burford defensive rebound
13:56		Rob Dillingham personal foul
13:52		Dalton Banks misses three point jump shot
13:50		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
13:38	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists)	13-13
13:18		Darius Burford misses three point jump shot
13:16		Wildcats defensive rebound
12:57		Brandon Lieb personal foul
12:47	+3	Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists)	13-16
12:35		Dalton Banks misses two point jump shot
12:33		Brandon Lieb offensive rebound
12:25		Ugonna Onyenso blocks Kendall Lewis's two point layup
12:23		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
12:12		Kendall Lewis shooting foul (Ugonna Onyenso draws the foul)
12:12		Ugonna Onyenso misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:12		Ugonna Onyenso misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:11		Antonio Reeves offensive rebound
12:10	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point layup	13-18
11:47	+2	Myles Foster makes two point layup	15-18
11:32		Luke Kasubke personal foul
11:32		TV timeout
11:26		Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot
11:24		Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound
11:19	+2	Aaron Bradshaw makes two point layup	15-20
11:08		Jordan Davis misses two point jump shot
11:06		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
10:54		Aaron Bradshaw misses two point layup
10:52		Myles Foster defensive rebound
10:40		Aaron Bradshaw shooting foul (Myles Foster draws the foul)
10:40		Myles Foster misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:40	+1	Myles Foster makes regular free throw 2 of 2	16-20
10:22		Luke Kasubke personal foul
10:15		Rob Dillingham misses two point jump shot
10:13		Darius Burford defensive rebound
10:05		Kendall Lewis misses three point jump shot
10:03		Rob Dillingham defensive rebound
9:55	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point layup (Rob Dillingham assists)	16-22
9:55		Redbirds 30 second timeout
9:30		Kendall Lewis turnover (Reed Sheppard steals)
9:24	+2	Justin Edwards makes two point dunk (Rob Dillingham assists)	16-24
9:00		Justin Edwards shooting foul (Kendall Lewis draws the foul)
9:00		Kendall Lewis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:00	+1	Kendall Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-24
8:39	+2	Reed Sheppard makes two point jump shot	17-26
8:26		Darius Burford misses two point jump shot
8:24		Justin Edwards defensive rebound
7:58		Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot
7:56		Myles Foster defensive rebound
7:39		Reed Sheppard blocks Malachi Poindexter's two point layup
7:37		Redbirds offensive rebound
7:37		TV timeout
7:27		Dalton Banks misses three point jump shot
7:25		D.J. Wagner defensive rebound
6:54		Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot
6:52		Myles Foster defensive rebound
6:37	+2	Jordan Davis makes two point jump shot (Dalton Banks assists)	19-26
6:22		Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot
6:20		Wildcats offensive rebound
6:20		Kendall Lewis personal foul
6:12	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists)	19-28
6:12		Jordan Davis shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul)
6:12	+1	Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 1	19-29
5:56	+2	Darius Burford makes two point jump shot	21-29
5:45	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists)	21-32
5:26	+2	Darius Burford makes two point layup	23-32
5:15		Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot
5:13		Myles Foster defensive rebound
5:04		Darius Burford misses two point jump shot
5:02		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
4:56	+2	Reed Sheppard makes two point layup	23-34
4:56		Luke Kasubke shooting foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul)
4:56	+1	Reed Sheppard makes regular free throw 1 of 1	23-35
4:33		Jordan Davis misses three point jump shot
4:31		Justin Edwards defensive rebound
4:14		Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot
4:12		Malachi Poindexter defensive rebound
3:58	+2	Malachi Poindexter makes two point layup (Brandon Lieb assists)	25-35
3:46	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point layup	25-37
3:23		Brandon Lieb misses three point jump shot
3:21		Rob Dillingham defensive rebound
3:17	+3	D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists)	25-40
2:57		Brandon Lieb misses three point jump shot
2:55		Redbirds offensive rebound
2:55		TV timeout
2:38		Malachi Poindexter misses two point jump shot
2:36		Myles Foster offensive rebound
2:29		Myles Foster misses two point layup
2:27		Jordan Davis offensive rebound
2:14		Ugonna Onyenso blocks Myles Foster's two point layup
2:12		Dalton Banks offensive rebound
2:03	+3	Darius Burford makes three point jump shot (Dalton Banks assists)	28-40
1:53	+2	Ugonna Onyenso makes two point dunk (Rob Dillingham assists)	28-42
1:38	+2	Darius Burford makes two point layup (Dalton Banks assists)	30-42
1:30		Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot
1:28		Jordan Davis defensive rebound
0:57		Jordan Davis misses three point jump shot
0:55		Rob Dillingham defensive rebound
0:29	+3	Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists)	30-45
0:05		Darius Burford misses three point jump shot
0:03		Brandon Lieb offensive rebound
0:03		Justin Edwards shooting foul (Brandon Lieb draws the foul)
0:03		Brandon Lieb misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:03		Brandon Lieb misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:03		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
ILST
Redbirds
40
UK
Wildcats
51

Time		Play	Score
19:46	+3	Malachi Poindexter makes three point jump shot (Darius Burford assists)	33-45
19:21		Justin Edwards misses two point jump shot
19:20		Wildcats offensive rebound
19:20		Myles Foster personal foul
19:09	+2	Justin Edwards makes two point driving layup (D.J. Wagner assists)	33-47
18:49	+3	Malachi Poindexter makes three point jump shot (Myles Foster assists)	36-47
18:40	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Justin Edwards assists)	36-50
18:20	+2	Dalton Banks makes two point driving layup	38-50
18:08		Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot
18:06		Myles Foster defensive rebound
17:52		Malachi Poindexter misses three point jump shot
17:50		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
17:45		Justin Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Darius Burford steals)
17:33		Aaron Bradshaw blocks Kendall Lewis's two point layup
17:31		Kendall Lewis offensive rebound
17:25		Jordan Davis misses three point jump shot
17:23		Kendall Lewis offensive rebound
17:12		Kendall Lewis misses two point layup
17:10		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
17:05	+2	Tre Mitchell makes two point jump shot	38-52
16:45		Malachi Poindexter misses two point jump shot
16:43		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
16:35		Malachi Poindexter personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
16:31		Kendall Lewis personal foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul)
16:26	+3	Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	38-55
16:09		Malachi Poindexter misses three point jump shot
16:07		Redbirds offensive rebound
16:07		Tre Mitchell personal foul
15:51		Dalton Banks misses two point layup
15:49		Kendall Lewis offensive rebound
15:43	+2	Kendall Lewis makes two point layup	40-55
15:30		Kendall Lewis blocks D.J. Wagner's two point layup
15:28		Myles Foster defensive rebound
15:19		Jordan Davis misses three point jump shot
15:19		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
15:16		Reed Sheppard turnover (Dalton Banks steals)
15:14		Reed Sheppard blocks Jordan Davis's three point jump shot
15:10		Myles Foster offensive rebound
15:08		Myles Foster turnover (Reed Sheppard steals)
15:03	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists)	40-58
14:45		Aaron Bradshaw personal foul
14:45		TV timeout
14:33		Malachi Poindexter misses three point jump shot
14:31		Kendall Lewis offensive rebound
14:25		Kendall Lewis misses two point layup
14:23		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
14:20	+2	Jordan Burks makes two point layup (Rob Dillingham assists)	40-60
13:54		Malachi Poindexter misses three point jump shot
13:52		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
13:42	+3	Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists)	40-63
13:17	+3	Dalton Banks makes three point jump shot (Malachi Poindexter assists)	43-63
13:08	+2	Rob Dillingham makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists)	43-65
12:46		Johnny Kinziger misses three point jump shot
12:44		Redbirds offensive rebound
12:44		Jordan Burks personal foul
12:39	+2	Darius Burford makes two point jump shot	45-65
12:22	+2	Rob Dillingham makes two point jump shot	45-67
12:22		Dalton Banks shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul)
12:22	+1	Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 1	45-68
11:58		Reed Sheppard personal foul (Johnny Kinziger draws the foul)
11:58		TV timeout
11:44		Jordan Burks shooting foul (Darius Burford draws the foul)
11:44	+1	Darius Burford makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-68
11:44	+1	Darius Burford makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-68
11:34		Rob Dillingham misses two point jump shot
11:32		Justin Edwards offensive rebound
11:26	+3	D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Justin Edwards assists)	47-71
11:14		Dalton Banks turnover (lost ball) (Rob Dillingham steals)
11:09		Luke Kasubke shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul)
11:09	+1	Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-72
11:09	+1	Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-73
11:01		Darius Burford misses two point jump shot
10:59		Kendall Lewis offensive rebound
10:53		Kendall Lewis misses two point layup
10:51		D.J. Wagner defensive rebound
10:38		Darius Burford shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul)
10:38	+1	Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-74
10:38	+1	Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-75
10:31		Rob Dillingham personal foul
10:18	+3	Johnny Kinziger makes three point jump shot (Dalton Banks assists)	50-75
9:53		D.J. Wagner misses two point jump shot
9:51		Redbirds defensive rebound
9:51		Ugonna Onyenso personal foul (Kendall Lewis draws the foul)
9:51	+1	Kendall Lewis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-75
9:51	+1	Kendall Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-75
9:33		Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot
9:31		Tre Mitchell offensive rebound
9:24		Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass)
9:02		Antonio Reeves personal foul (Dalton Banks draws the foul)
9:02	+1	Dalton Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-75
9:02		Dalton Banks misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:02		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
8:53		Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot
8:51		Dalton Banks defensive rebound
8:40		Darius Burford misses two point jump shot
8:38		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
8:29		Johnny Kinziger shooting foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul)
8:28		Tre Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:28	+1	Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-76
8:08	+2	Myles Foster makes two point hook shot	55-76
8:03		Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot
8:01		Darius Burford defensive rebound
7:53	+2	Myles Foster makes two point layup (Darius Burford assists)	57-76
7:32	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point layup	57-78
7:03		Ty Pence misses three point jump shot
7:01		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
6:54		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
6:52		Myles Foster defensive rebound
6:38		Ty Pence misses two point jump shot
6:36		Justin Edwards defensive rebound
6:28		Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot
6:26		Malachi Poindexter defensive rebound
6:18		Johnny Kinziger misses three point jump shot
6:16		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
6:04		Reed Sheppard misses two point dunk
6:02		Malachi Poindexter defensive rebound
5:57		Darius Burford misses three point jump shot
5:57		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
5:57		Myles Foster personal foul
5:55		TV timeout
5:57	+1	Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-79
5:57	+1	Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-80
5:46		Aaron Bradshaw personal foul (Myles Foster draws the foul)
5:46	+1	Myles Foster makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-80
5:46	+1	Myles Foster makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-80
5:36		Ty Pence shooting foul (Jordan Burks draws the foul)
5:36		Jordan Burks misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:36	+1	Jordan Burks makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-81
5:23		Jordan Burks blocks Myles Foster's two point layup
5:21		Malachi Poindexter offensive rebound
5:16		Jordan Burks blocks Ty Pence's three point jump shot
5:14		Myles Foster offensive rebound
5:09		Myles Foster turnover (lost ball) (Rob Dillingham steals)
5:09		Dalton Banks shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul)
5:09	+1	Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-82
5:09	+1	Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-83
4:54	+2	Myles Foster makes two point layup (Dalton Banks assists)	61-83
4:54		Rob Dillingham shooting foul (Myles Foster draws the foul)
4:54		Myles Foster misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:54		Jordan Burks defensive rebound
4:44		Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass)
4:28		Dalton Banks misses three point jump shot
4:26		Myles Foster offensive rebound
4:20	+3	Malachi Poindexter makes three point jump shot (Myles Foster assists)	64-83
4:09	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot	64-86
3:33		Malachi Poindexter misses two point layup
3:31		Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound
3:19		D.J. Wagner misses two point jump shot
3:17		Myles Foster defensive rebound
3:04		Ugonna Onyenso blocks Ty Pence's two point layup
3:02		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
2:55	+2	Jordan Burks makes two point dunk (Rob Dillingham assists)	64-88
2:43		Darius Burford misses two point jump shot
2:41		Darius Burford offensive rebound
2:36		Malachi Poindexter misses three point jump shot
2:34		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
2:25		Rob Dillingham misses two point jump shot
2:23		Myles Foster defensive rebound
2:17	+2	Dalton Banks makes two point layup	66-88
2:05	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point layup	66-90
1:41		Dalton Banks turnover (bad pass) (Rob Dillingham steals)
1:34	+2	Rob Dillingham makes two point dunk	66-92
1:28		Darius Burford misses two point jump shot
1:26		Myles Foster offensive rebound
1:20	+2	Myles Foster makes two point layup	68-92
1:13	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point dunk (D.J. Wagner assists)	68-94
0:54	+2	Malachi Poindexter makes two point jump shot	70-94
0:47		Rob Dillingham misses two point layup
0:45		Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound
0:45	+2	Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup	70-96
0:44		Rob Dillingham personal foul
0:44		TV timeout
0:44		Dalton Banks misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:44		Dalton Banks misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:44		Wildcats defensive rebound
0:14		Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation)
0:06		Jordan Davis misses three point jump shot
0:04		Luke Kasubke offensive rebound
0:00		Luke Kasubke misses three point jump shot
0:00		Wildcats defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Wildcats defensive rebound