Dillingham scores 23, No. 15 Kentucky pulls away from Vanderbilt 93-77 for 4th consecutive win
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Rob Dillingham scored 23 points, including consecutive 3-pointers just before halftime, Antonio Reeves added 20 in his home finale and No. 15 Kentucky rode 56% second-half shooting to pull away from Vanderbilt 93-77 on Wednesday night for its fourth victory in a row.
The Wildcats (22-8, 12-6 Southeastern Conference) went back and forth with the Commodores (8-22, 3-14) for much of the first half before taking the lead for good just before the break as Reed Sheppard made the first of Kentucky's four straight 3s. Dillingham followed with a pair before Reeves capped the run with another from deep with three seconds remaining for a 45-40 edge.
Dillingham added seven consecutive points midway through the second half to help put Kentucky up 68-55. Another run built a 19-point cushion with 4:04 left and the Wildcats went on to complete a season sweep of the Commodores.
“Knowing that he's like a little microwave out there, it's really just fun to see,” Reeves said of Dillingham. “When he gets the ball, just get out of the way because you know he's going to make a play.”
Tyrin Lawrence had 23 points for the Commodores, who have dropped five of six.
Dillingham shot 5 of 6 with a 3-pointer after halftime to finish 3 of 4 from long range and 9 for 15 overall. Kentucky was outshot 53% to 46% in the first half before improving to make 20 of 36 from the field and finish at 51% while Vanderbilt converted just 38%.
Reeves shot 8 of 17 in his sixth consecutive 20-point game and 17th this season. He also grabbed six rebounds. Sheppard had eight points and tied a career high with 11 of Kentucky's 27 assists.
D.J. Wagner added 11 points and Justin Edwards had 10 for Kentucky, which made 11 of 27 3-pointers and outrebounded Vandy 44-32.
Ezra Manjon had 17 points, Ven-Allen Lubin 13 and Paul Lewis 10 for the Commodores, who finished 5 of 23 from long range.
Kentucky regulars Reeves and Trey Mitchell and reserve guard Kareem Watkins were honored before the game on Senior Night. Also recognized was Louisville firefighter Bryce Carden, who rappelled down from the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge last Friday to rescue a driver trapped in the cab of her wrecked tractor-trailer as it dangled precariously over the Ohio River. Carden sat behind the Wildcats bench.
BIG PICTURE
Vanderbilt: The Commodores actually started faster than Kentucky and helped their cause by shooting 53% before halftime. They struggled to keep pace on the boards and contain the Wildcats' perimeter game, which allowed Kentucky to take momentum into the break. Their consolation was outscoring Kentucky 48-40 in the paint.
“Maybe the guys thought that they were a little bit too far out, 4 or 5 feet behind the line," coach Jerry Stackhouse said. "But for those guys it isn’t too far out and they made us pay for it. ... We had an opportunity to really have some momentum going into the half, but we went down five just because of their ability to step up and make big shots.”
Kentucky: A double bye in the SEC Tournament and maybe even a second-place finish in the league standings is in play for the Wildcats following a victory that took a while to put together. They overcame a slow start shooting by stringing together baskets before the break. They also owned the boards for the second consecutive game and by the third-largest margin this season; they were plus-22 against Vandy the first time around.
UP NEXT
Kentucky visits No. 4 Tennessee on Saturday in the regular-season finale.
Vanderbilt hosts Florida on Saturday in their finale.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Ven-Allen Lubin vs. D.J. Wagner (Commodores gains possession) | |||
19:50 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Ven-Allen Lubin's two point layup | |||
19:48 | Kareem Watkins defensive rebound | |||
19:36 | Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot | |||
19:34 | Ezra Manjon defensive rebound | |||
19:17 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
18:54 | JaQualon Roberts personal foul (Kareem Watkins draws the foul) | |||
18:50 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 2-2 | |
18:21 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Malik Presley's two point layup | |||
18:19 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
18:08 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
18:06 | Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound | |||
17:58 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 4-2 | |
17:44 | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup (D.J. Wagner assists) | 4-4 | |
17:14 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point jump shot | 6-4 | |
17:03 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
17:01 | Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound | |||
16:56 | Tre Mitchell personal foul | |||
16:41 | Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point hook shot | |||
16:39 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
16:24 | Rob Dillingham misses two point jump shot | |||
16:22 | JaQualon Roberts defensive rebound | |||
16:01 | Ven-Allen Lubin offensive foul | |||
16:01 | Ven-Allen Lubin turnover (offensive foul) | |||
15:48 | Zvonimir Ivisic misses three point jump shot | |||
15:46 | Ezra Manjon defensive rebound | |||
15:40 | Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot | |||
15:38 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
15:33 | Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (JaQualon Roberts steals) | |||
15:26 | Malik Presley misses three point jump shot | |||
15:24 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
15:06 | TV timeout | |||
15:01 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
14:59 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
14:47 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) (Paul Lewis steals) | |||
14:34 | Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot | |||
14:32 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
14:15 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point layup | 6-6 | |
13:55 | Paul Lewis turnover (traveling) | |||
13:41 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 6-8 | |
13:22 | Ezra Manjon misses two point layup | |||
13:20 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
13:15 | Zvonimir Ivisic misses three point jump shot | |||
13:13 | Evan Taylor defensive rebound | |||
13:00 | +2 | Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup | 8-8 | |
12:55 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 8-10 | |
12:41 | +3 | Tyrin Lawrence makes three point jump shot (Ezra Manjon assists) | 11-10 | |
12:34 | Zvonimir Ivisic offensive foul | |||
12:34 | Zvonimir Ivisic turnover (offensive foul) | |||
12:10 | Paul Lewis misses three point jump shot | |||
12:08 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
12:02 | Aaron Bradshaw misses two point dunk | |||
12:00 | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | |||
12:00 | Evan Taylor shooting foul (Aaron Bradshaw draws the foul) | |||
12:00 | TV timeout | |||
12:00 | +1 | Aaron Bradshaw makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-11 | |
12:00 | Aaron Bradshaw misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
12:00 | Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound | |||
11:36 | +2 | Tyrin Lawrence makes two point jump shot | 13-11 | |
11:26 | +3 | D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 13-14 | |
11:02 | Aaron Bradshaw shooting foul (JaQualon Roberts draws the foul) | |||
11:02 | JaQualon Roberts misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:02 | +1 | JaQualon Roberts makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-14 | |
10:52 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:50 | Paul Lewis defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | +2 | Paul Lewis makes two point jump shot | 16-14 | |
10:37 | Rob Dillingham misses two point jump shot | |||
10:35 | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | |||
10:29 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point jump shot | 16-16 | |
10:11 | Tre Mitchell blocks Evan Taylor's three point jump shot | |||
10:09 | JaQualon Roberts offensive rebound | |||
9:57 | Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot | |||
9:55 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
9:51 | Rob Dillingham offensive foul | |||
9:51 | Rob Dillingham turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:36 | +3 | Paul Lewis makes three point jump shot (Ezra Manjon assists) | 19-16 | |
9:23 | Reed Sheppard turnover (lost ball) (Ezra Manjon steals) | |||
9:16 | +3 | Paul Lewis makes three point jump shot (Ezra Manjon assists) | 22-16 | |
9:13 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
8:52 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
8:50 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
8:48 | Ezra Manjon shooting foul (Justin Edwards draws the foul) | |||
8:48 | +1 | Justin Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-17 | |
8:48 | +1 | Justin Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-18 | |
8:29 | Paul Lewis misses three point jump shot | |||
8:27 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
8:27 | Ven-Allen Lubin personal foul | |||
8:04 | Antonio Reeves misses two point layup | |||
8:02 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
7:56 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point dunk | 22-20 | |
7:42 | Aaron Bradshaw shooting foul (Ven-Allen Lubin draws the foul) | |||
7:42 | TV timeout | |||
7:42 | +1 | Ven-Allen Lubin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-20 | |
7:42 | +1 | Ven-Allen Lubin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-20 | |
7:20 | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | |||
7:18 | Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound | |||
7:13 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 26-20 | |
6:56 | +3 | D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Zvonimir Ivisic assists) | 26-23 | |
6:43 | Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot | |||
6:41 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
6:26 | D.J. Wagner misses two point jump shot | |||
6:24 | Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound | |||
6:08 | Zvonimir Ivisic personal foul | |||
5:59 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Ven-Allen Lubin's two point layup | |||
5:57 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
5:54 | Malik Presley personal foul | |||
5:46 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 26-25 | |
5:22 | +2 | Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point layup (Tyrin Lawrence assists) | 28-25 | |
5:22 | Justin Edwards shooting foul (Ven-Allen Lubin draws the foul) | |||
5:22 | Ven-Allen Lubin misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
5:22 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
5:10 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
5:08 | Ezra Manjon defensive rebound | |||
5:04 | +2 | Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup (Ezra Manjon assists) | 30-25 | |
4:56 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
4:54 | Rob Dillingham offensive rebound | |||
4:41 | Tre Mitchell misses two point layup | |||
4:39 | Evan Taylor defensive rebound | |||
4:16 | Tyrin Lawrence misses two point jump shot | |||
4:14 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
4:11 | Tyrin Lawrence blocks Rob Dillingham's two point layup | |||
4:09 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
4:08 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 30-27 | |
4:00 | +2 | Malik Presley makes two point dunk (Ezra Manjon assists) | 32-27 | |
3:44 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point layup | 32-29 | |
3:34 | +2 | Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point jump shot (Ezra Manjon assists) | 34-29 | |
3:18 | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | |||
3:16 | Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound | |||
3:11 | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup | 34-31 | |
2:39 | Commodores turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
2:39 | TV timeout | |||
2:26 | Malik Presley personal foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
2:26 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-32 | |
2:26 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-33 | |
2:10 | Evan Taylor misses three point jump shot | |||
2:08 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
1:50 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
1:48 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
1:41 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 34-36 | |
1:27 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 36-36 | |
1:15 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 36-39 | |
1:01 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 38-39 | |
0:39 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 38-42 | |
0:28 | Commodores 30 second timeout | |||
0:08 | +2 | Tyrin Lawrence makes two point dunk (Jordan Williams assists) | 40-42 | |
0:00 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Adou Thiero assists) | 40-45 | |
0:00 | End of period |