Antonio Reeves scores 30, No. 9 Kentucky blows out rival Louisville 95-76 in Bluegrass showdown
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Antonio Reeves scored 22 of his season-high 30 points in the first half, helping No. 9 Kentucky overcome a slow shooting start and cruise past rival Louisville 95-76 on Thursday night in the annual battle for Bluegrass bragging rights.
Kentucky (9-2) missed seven of its first 12 attempts, but stayed within a couple of possessions behind perimeter shooting keyed by Reeves, who made his first four shots from beyond the arc and nine of 10 in the first half.
The Wildcats took charge for good at 19-17 on Adou Theiro’s 3-pointer and mounted several small runs behind 14-of-22 shooting to close the half and lead 53-33 on Reeves' 3 with six seconds remaining. Kentucky made 8 of 15 from long range and 19 of 35 (54%).
“I was hot, so when I got the ball I wasn’t thinking, was just off reaction," said Reeves, who made nine consecutive shots in the half. "I just shot it and went in.”
Reeves finished 10 of 15 from the field to top his previous best of 24 points against top-ranked Kansas on Nov. 14. Tre Mitchell added 18 points - including a 3 for an 86-61 lead with 5:29 left that sparked cheers from a mostly blue-clad crowd - and 12 rebounds as the Wildcats shot 51% to earn their third consecutive series win over the Cardinals, this time in front of an announced crowd of 17,293.
Justin Edwards had 13 points, with Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard adding 12 and 11 points, respectively. But veterans Reeves and Mitchell got it started, helping Kentucky seize momentum in a highly charged environment.
“It could be anybody’s night, any given night," Mitchell added. “You don’t know who it’s going to be. It just so happened to be that it was us.”
Skyy Clark had 20 points and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Louisville (5-7), which looked to follow up Sunday's rout of Pepperdine by upsetting their archrival. Louisville shot 42% but edged Kentucky 43-42 in the second half and were outrebounded just 37-35.
“I talked to the guys about the first 10 minutes of the game, what it felt like how you had them on their heels a little bit," Cardinals coach Kenny Payne said, "and I talked about the next 10 minutes of the game and how we stopped sharing the ball. We didn’t get back in transition, and the guy goes off for 22 points.”
BIG Z UPDATE
Kentucky coach John Calipari said he granted permission for 7-footer Zvonimir Ivisic to go home to Croatia for the holiday break, but said nothing had changed in terms of his eligibility status under review by the NCAA.
“He’s going to go home and be back before the Illinois State game (Dec. 29)," Calipari said. "Hopefully, we hear something.”
BIG PICTURE
Kentucky played the pace it wanted and created good looks, and it was just a matter of how soon the shots start falling. Reeves had no such issues, and that set the tone for the Wildcats to follow suit and keep firing as they reached double digits from long range for the fifth time this season.
Louisville: The Cardinals started strong and competed for about 10 minutes, but couldn't sustain that intensity against a deeper, patient Kentucky squad. They certainly couldn't match their perimeter shooting, hitting just 4 of 17.
UP NEXT
Kentucky hosts Illinois State on Dec. 29 in its final non-conference prep before opening Southeastern Conference play at Florida on Jan. 6.
Louisville resumes Atlantic Coast Conference play at Virginia on Jan. 3.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Aaron Bradshaw vs. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tre Mitchell gains possession) | |||
19:30 | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | |||
19:28 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield defensive rebound | |||
19:12 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point dunk (Tre White assists) | 0-2 | |
18:45 | D.J. Wagner turnover (lost ball) (Ty-Laur Johnson steals) | |||
18:35 | D.J. Wagner personal foul (Ty-Laur Johnson draws the foul) | |||
18:27 | Tre Mitchell blocks Ty-Laur Johnson's three point jump shot | |||
18:27 | Cardinals offensive rebound | |||
18:15 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield turnover (lost ball) (Antonio Reeves steals) | |||
18:05 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
18:03 | Mike James defensive rebound | |||
17:49 | +3 | Mike James makes three point jump shot (Ty-Laur Johnson assists) | 0-5 | |
17:35 | Justin Edwards misses two point jump shot | |||
17:33 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield defensive rebound | |||
17:23 | Ty-Laur Johnson turnover (bad pass) | |||
17:15 | Reed Sheppard misses two point layup | |||
17:13 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield defensive rebound | |||
17:07 | Aaron Bradshaw blocks Ty-Laur Johnson's two point layup | |||
17:07 | Cardinals offensive rebound | |||
17:00 | Tre White turnover (lost ball) (Antonio Reeves steals) | |||
16:57 | Tre White personal foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
16:36 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
16:34 | Tre Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
16:34 | Mike James personal foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
16:30 | Skyy Clark shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
16:30 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 1-5 | |
16:30 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 2-5 | |
16:30 | Rob Dillingham misses regular free throw 3 of 3 | |||
16:30 | Mike James defensive rebound | |||
16:15 | Tre Mitchell blocks Ty-Laur Johnson's two point layup | |||
16:15 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
16:10 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 5-5 | |
15:51 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point layup (Ty-Laur Johnson assists) | 5-7 | |
15:35 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point jump shot | 7-7 | |
15:22 | Ty-Laur Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
15:20 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
15:10 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 9-7 | |
14:45 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point layup | 9-9 | |
14:28 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point jump shot | 11-9 | |
14:12 | +3 | Skyy Clark makes three point jump shot (Tre White assists) | 11-12 | |
13:55 | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | |||
13:53 | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | |||
13:49 | Aaron Bradshaw misses two point jump shot | |||
13:47 | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | |||
13:46 | Aaron Bradshaw turnover (bad pass) | |||
13:46 | TV timeout | |||
13:36 | Mike James turnover (out of bounds) | |||
13:25 | +3 | Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 14-12 | |
13:10 | Jump ball. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield vs. Adou Thiero (Brandon Huntley-Hatfield gains possession) | |||
13:00 | D.J. Wagner shooting foul (Skyy Clark draws the foul) | |||
13:00 | Skyy Clark misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
13:00 | Skyy Clark misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
13:00 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
12:45 | Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot | |||
12:43 | Curtis Williams defensive rebound | |||
12:25 | Tre White misses three point jump shot | |||
12:23 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
12:21 | Justin Edwards offensive foul (Skyy Clark draws the foul) | |||
12:21 | Justin Edwards turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:55 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point jump shot | 14-14 | |
11:41 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
11:39 | Kaleb Glenn defensive rebound | |||
11:30 | Rob Dillingham shooting foul (Skyy Clark draws the foul) | |||
11:30 | TV timeout | |||
11:30 | +1 | Skyy Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 14-15 | |
11:30 | Skyy Clark misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | |||
11:30 | Skyy Clark misses regular free throw 3 of 3 | |||
11:30 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
11:24 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup | 16-15 | |
11:14 | +2 | Tre White makes two point jump shot (Skyy Clark assists) | 16-17 | |
10:52 | +3 | Adou Thiero makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 19-17 | |
10:36 | Curtis Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
10:34 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
10:23 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 21-17 | |
9:55 | Antonio Reeves shooting foul (Skyy Clark draws the foul) | |||
9:55 | Skyy Clark misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:55 | +1 | Skyy Clark makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-18 | |
9:45 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 24-18 | |
9:22 | Curtis Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
9:20 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield offensive rebound | |||
9:15 | Skyy Clark turnover (bad pass) (Justin Edwards steals) | |||
9:11 | Tre White personal foul (Wildcats draws the foul) | |||
9:09 | +2 | Justin Edwards makes two point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 26-18 | |
8:52 | Mike James misses three point jump shot | |||
8:50 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
8:41 | +2 | Reed Sheppard makes two point jump shot | 28-18 | |
8:41 | Ty-Laur Johnson shooting foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul) | |||
8:41 | +1 | Reed Sheppard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-18 | |
8:30 | Mike James misses two point layup | |||
8:28 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
8:21 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point jump shot | 31-18 | |
8:20 | Cardinals 30 second timeout | |||
7:50 | TV timeout | |||
7:50 | +2 | Curtis Williams makes two point jump shot | 31-20 | |
7:26 | Adou Thiero misses three point jump shot | |||
7:24 | Rob Dillingham offensive rebound | |||
7:12 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
7:10 | Justin Edwards offensive rebound | |||
7:00 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 33-20 | |
6:38 | Rob Dillingham personal foul (Cardinals draws the foul) | |||
6:30 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point jump shot (Ty-Laur Johnson assists) | 33-22 | |
6:15 | +3 | Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 36-22 | |
5:57 | Aaron Bradshaw personal foul (Ty-Laur Johnson draws the foul) | |||
5:57 | +1 | Ty-Laur Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-23 | |
5:57 | +1 | Ty-Laur Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-24 | |
5:40 | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | |||
5:38 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield defensive rebound | |||
5:30 | +2 | Skyy Clark makes two point jump shot | 36-26 | |
5:15 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:13 | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | |||
5:12 | Tre White personal foul (Wildcats draws the foul) | |||
4:55 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot | 39-26 | |
4:34 | Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Mike James draws the foul) | |||
4:34 | +1 | Mike James makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-27 | |
4:34 | +1 | Mike James makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-28 | |
4:15 | Reed Sheppard turnover (lost ball) (Mike James steals) | |||
4:11 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point layup (Mike James assists) | 39-30 | |
4:09 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
4:09 | TV timeout | |||
3:52 | Reed Sheppard misses two point jump shot | |||
3:50 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield defensive rebound | |||
3:28 | Justin Edwards personal foul (Curtis Williams draws the foul) | |||
3:28 | +1 | Curtis Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-31 | |
3:28 | Curtis Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:28 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
3:13 | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | |||
3:11 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
3:11 | Adou Thiero misses two point dunk | |||
3:09 | Cardinals defensive rebound | |||
3:00 | Skyy Clark turnover (lost ball) (Tre Mitchell steals) | |||
2:55 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point dunk | 41-31 | |
2:37 | Skyy Clark misses two point jump shot | |||
2:35 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | |||
2:30 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-31 | |
2:30 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-31 | |
2:13 | Mike James misses two point jump shot | |||
2:11 | Mike James offensive rebound | |||
2:09 | Ty-Laur Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Justin Edwards steals) | |||
2:02 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Justin Edwards assists) | 46-31 | |
1:50 | Adou Thiero blocks Ty-Laur Johnson's two point layup | |||
1:50 | Cardinals offensive rebound | |||
1:42 | +2 | Mike James makes two point layup | 46-33 | |
1:34 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 48-33 | |
1:14 | Skyy Clark misses three point jump shot | |||
1:12 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
0:46 | Ty-Laur Johnson shooting foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul) | |||
0:46 | Reed Sheppard misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | |||
0:46 | +1 | Reed Sheppard makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 49-33 | |
0:46 | +1 | Reed Sheppard makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 50-33 | |
0:31 | Curtis Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
0:29 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
0:06 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 53-33 | |
0:00 | End of period |