Reeves stars as No. 23 Kentucky beats Arkansas 88-79
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Antonio Reeves scored a career-high 37 points, and No. 23 Kentucky handed Arkansas its third straight loss with an 88-79 victory on Saturday.
Oscar Tshiebwe had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Wildcats (21-10, 12-6 Southeastern Conference). Jacob Toppin scored 21 points.
Kentucky shot 54% from the field in its fifth win in six games. It also held Arkansas to 36% shooting.
The Wildcats will be the No. 3 seed for the SEC Tournament.
“From this point through the conference tournament, we have to understand how we got to play, fight, execute,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.
Kentucky played without starting point guard Cason Wallace because of a leg injury. Calipari did not give a timetable for Wallace’s return.
Tshiebwe fouled out with 4:53 left, but Arkansas (19-12, 8-10) was unable to take advantage of his absence. The Razorbacks missed three straight buckets before Reeves scored to lift Kentucky back to a 10-point lead with four minutes left.
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman lamented his team's trouble with finishing inside and praised Reeves. The senior guard was 12 for 17 from the field and 11 for 11 at the free-throw line.
“Obviously tonight, 2 for 20 around the rim, you’re not going to win a lot of games," Musselman said. “What happened tonight is Reeves stepped into the point guard position and had 37 points. He played as good as any player I’ve seen since I’ve been coaching at Arkansas.”
Nick Smith Jr. led Arkansas with 25 points on 10-of-23 shooting. Ricky Council had 16 points, and Anthony Black finished with 14.
The Razorbacks had 17 offensive rebounds, but they were outscored 17-9 in second-chance points.
BIG PICTURE
Kentucky's late-season push likely secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament. A strong showing in the conference tournament could help with its seeding.
Arkansas likely would have locked up a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a win over Kentucky. Instead, the SEC Tournament may determine the Razorbacks' fate.
UP NEXT
Kentucky: The Wildcats will receive a bye to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday.
Arkansas: The Razorbacks play Thursday in the second round of the conference tournament.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | Oscar Tshiebwe vs. Makhi Mitchell (Razorbacks gains possession) | ||
| 19:44 | | Nick Smith Jr. turnover (bad pass) (CJ Fredrick steals) | ||
| 19:27 |  | Jacob Toppin turnover (traveling) | ||
| 19:14 | | +3 | Nick Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Makhi Mitchell assists) | 0-3 |
| 18:57 | | CJ Fredrick misses three point jump shot | ||
| 18:55 | | Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound | ||
| 18:53 | | Makhel Mitchell personal foul (Oscar Tshiebwe draws the foul) | ||
| 18:41 | | Nick Smith Jr. shooting foul (CJ Fredrick draws the foul) | ||
| 18:41 | | +1 | CJ Fredrick makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-3 |
| 18:41 | | +1 | CJ Fredrick makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-3 |
| 18:32 | | Nick Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | ||
| 18:30 | | Makhel Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 18:23 | | Makhel Mitchell misses two point layup | ||
| 18:21 | | Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound | ||
| 18:13 | | +2 | Jacob Toppin makes two point jump shot | 4-3 |
| 17:55 | | Jacob Toppin shooting foul (Anthony Black draws the foul) | ||
| 17:55 | | +1 | Anthony Black makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-4 |
| 17:55 | | Anthony Black misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 17:55 | | Makhel Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 17:38 | | Anthony Black misses two point jump shot | ||
| 17:36 | | Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound | ||
| 17:13 | | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | ||
| 17:11 | | Anthony Black defensive rebound | ||
| 17:02 | | +2 | Makhi Mitchell makes two point dunk (Nick Smith Jr. assists) | 4-6 |
| 16:45 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 6-6 |
| 16:23 | | Nick Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | ||
| 16:21 | | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | ||
| 16:12 | | TV timeout | ||
| 16:12 | | Makhel Mitchell personal foul | ||
| 16:12 | | Oscar Tshiebwe technical foul | ||
| 16:12 | | Anthony Black technical foul | ||
| 15:52 | | Oscar Tshiebwe misses two point jump shot | ||
| 15:50 | | Ricky Council IV defensive rebound | ||
| 15:30 | | Ricky Council IV misses two point jump shot | ||
| 15:28 | | Jacob Toppin defensive rebound | ||
| 15:22 | | Chris Livingston misses two point layup | ||
| 15:20 | | Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound | ||
| 15:12 | | +2 | Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point dunk | 8-6 |
| 15:02 | | Nick Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | ||
| 15:00 | | Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 14:51 | | Makhi Mitchell misses two point jump shot | ||
| 14:49 | | Chris Livingston defensive rebound | ||
| 14:49 | | Oscar Tshiebwe misses two point layup | ||
| 14:49 | | Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound | ||
| 14:49 | | Makhi Mitchell shooting foul (Oscar Tshiebwe draws the foul) | ||
| 14:48 | | +1 | Oscar Tshiebwe makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-6 |
| 14:48 | | +1 | Oscar Tshiebwe makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-6 |
| 14:30 | | +2 | Jalen Graham makes two point dunk (Anthony Black assists) | 10-8 |
| 14:17 | | +2 | Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point layup (Jacob Toppin assists) | 12-8 |
| 14:04 | | +2 | Anthony Black makes two point dunk (Jordan Walsh assists) | 12-10 |
| 13:46 | | +2 | Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point layup (Chris Livingston assists) | 14-10 |
| 13:24 | | Jalen Graham misses two point jump shot | ||
| 13:22 | | Chris Livingston defensive rebound | ||
| 13:15 | | +2 | Jacob Toppin makes two point dunk (CJ Fredrick assists) | 16-10 |
| 13:15 | | Davonte Davis shooting foul (Jacob Toppin draws the foul) | ||
| 13:15 | | +1 | Jacob Toppin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-10 |
| 12:57 | | +3 | Davonte Davis makes three point jump shot (Anthony Black assists) | 17-13 |
| 12:46 | | +2 | Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point layup (Jacob Toppin assists) | 19-13 |
| 12:35 | | Davonte Davis misses two point jump shot | ||
| 12:33 | | Chris Livingston defensive rebound | ||
| 12:27 | | Jacob Toppin turnover (bad pass) | ||
| 12:10 | | +2 | Anthony Black makes two point layup | 19-15 |
| 11:56 | | +2 | Jacob Toppin makes two point layup | 21-15 |
| 11:42 | | Chris Livingston shooting foul (Anthony Black draws the foul) | ||
| 11:42 | | TV timeout | ||
| 11:42 | | Anthony Black misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:42 | | +1 | Anthony Black makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-16 |
| 11:18 | | Chris Livingston turnover (lost ball) (Nick Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 11:02 | | +2 | Jordan Walsh makes two point dunk (Nick Smith Jr. assists) | 21-18 |
| 10:50 | | Chris Livingston misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:48 | | Jordan Walsh defensive rebound | ||
| 10:39 | | Nick Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:37 | | Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | Jordan Walsh personal foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | ||
| 10:37 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-18 |
| 10:37 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-18 |
| 10:08 | | Adou Thiero personal foul (Jordan Walsh draws the foul) | ||
| 9:58 | | Jordan Walsh misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:56 | | Anthony Black offensive rebound | ||
| 9:43 | | Anthony Black misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:41 | | Jordan Walsh offensive rebound | ||
| 9:22 | | Ricky Council IV turnover (lost ball) (Adou Thiero steals) | ||
| 9:11 | | Anthony Black blocks Adou Thiero's two point layup | ||
| 9:09 | | Jordan Walsh defensive rebound | ||
| 8:59 | | Daimion Collins blocks Anthony Black's two point layup | ||
| 8:57 | | Daimion Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point dunk (Daimion Collins assists) | 25-18 |
| 8:57 | | Antonio Reeves personal foul | ||
| 8:38 | | Lance Ware blocks Jordan Walsh's two point layup | ||
| 8:36 | | Razorbacks offensive rebound | ||
| 8:36 | | Daimion Collins personal foul (Ricky Council IV draws the foul) | ||
| 8:30 | | Daimion Collins shooting foul (Ricky Council IV draws the foul) | ||
| 8:30 | | +1 | Ricky Council IV makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-19 |
| 8:30 | | +1 | Ricky Council IV makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-20 |
| 8:12 | | Oscar Tshiebwe misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:10 | | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | ||
| 7:57 | | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Oscar Tshiebwe assists) | 28-20 |
| 7:27 | | +2 | Ricky Council IV makes two point dunk (Nick Smith Jr. assists) | 28-22 |
| 7:05 | | Oscar Tshiebwe misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:03 | | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | ||
| 7:00 | | Adou Thiero turnover (lost ball) (Nick Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 6:56 | | +2 | Ricky Council IV makes two point dunk (Nick Smith Jr. assists) | 28-24 |
| 6:56 | | Wildcats 30 second timeout | ||
| 6:56 | | TV timeout | ||
| 6:42 | | +2 | Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point dunk (Jacob Toppin assists) | 30-24 |
| 6:26 | | +2 | Ricky Council IV makes two point jump shot | 30-26 |
| 5:53 | | Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 5:35 | | Davonte Davis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:33 | | Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound | ||
| 5:18 | | Jacob Toppin misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:16 | | Ricky Council IV defensive rebound | ||
| 4:48 | | Jordan Walsh misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:46 | | Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound | ||
| 4:29 | | Oscar Tshiebwe turnover (double dribble) | ||
| 4:24 | | Anthony Black offensive foul | ||
| 4:24 | | Anthony Black turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 4:09 | | Adou Thiero misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:07 | | Davonte Davis defensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | +2 | Davonte Davis makes two point layup | 30-28 |
| 3:44 | | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point layup | 32-28 |
| 3:34 | | +2 | Nick Smith Jr. makes two point jump shot | 32-30 |
| 3:19 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 34-30 |
| 3:08 | | Nick Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:06 | | Chris Livingston defensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | Makhi Mitchell shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | ||
| 3:00 | | TV timeout | ||
| 3:00 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-30 |
| 3:00 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-30 |
| 2:34 | | Ricky Council IV misses two point jump shot | ||
| 2:32 | | Kamani Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:31 | | Chris Livingston personal foul (Kamani Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:31 | | Kamani Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 2:31 | | Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound | ||
| 2:09 | | Jacob Toppin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:07 | | Davonte Davis defensive rebound | ||
| 1:52 | | +2 | Nick Smith Jr. makes two point jump shot | 36-32 |
| 1:34 | | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:32 | | Nick Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 1:23 | | Nick Smith Jr. misses two point layup | ||
| 1:21 | | Lance Ware defensive rebound | ||
| 1:17 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 38-32 |
| 1:17 | | Oscar Tshiebwe flagrant 1 (Kamani Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 1:17 | | +1 | Kamani Johnson makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 38-33 |
| 1:17 | | +1 | Kamani Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-34 |
| 0:45 | | +2 | Nick Smith Jr. makes two point jump shot (Jordan Walsh assists) | 38-36 |
| 0:25 | | Jacob Toppin misses two point jump shot | ||
| 0:23 | | Daimion Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 0:18 | | +2 | Daimion Collins makes two point layup | 40-36 |
| 0:02 | | Ricky Council IV misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Razorbacks offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |