Calipari reaches 400 victories with Kentucky, No. 8 Wildcats beat Mississippi State 90-77
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Antonio Reeves scored 27 points and No. 8 Kentucky beat Mississippi State 90-77 on Wednesday night for coach John Calipari's 400th victory with the Wildcats.
Kentucky (13-3, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) shot 62% in the second half and 56% overall to provide the milestone victory for the Hall of Famer, who became the third-fastest active coach to achieve that with a program, in 516 contests. Bill Self reached 400 wins in 484 games with Kansas, and Mark Few hit 400 in 499 outings at Gonzaga.
Calipari downplayed the achievement and said he wasn't paying attention to numbers but noted, “You stay long enough and you have enough really good players, a lot of those things happen.”
Rob Dillingham added 16 points for the Wildcats, who made 23 of 31 two-point attempts.
Tolu Smith III had 26 points for the Bulldogs (12-5, 1-3). They dropped their third of four SEC games, failing to regroup from a home loss to Alabama. Mississippi State shot 35% in the first half and 53% in the second.
Meanwhile the SEC's top scoring offense, ranked second nationally, maintained its per-game average against a defense that entered the game allowing just under 65 points per outing to rank second in the league.
Kentucky's accurate shooting helped it build a 47-29 halftime lead and forge a cushion after the Bulldogs rallied to 49-43 just after the break. Kentucky outscored Mississippi State 12-3 over a 2:51 span for a double-digit lead and stayed ahead to rebound from a 97-92 overtime loss at Texas A&M on Saturday.
Reeves was 8 of 12 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers and made nine free throws without a miss. He scored 16 points in the first half to jump-start the Wildcats, with Dillingham adding 10 by halftime. Tre Mitchell added 15 points and Aaron Bradshaw 11 for Kentucky.
“We’re just headed in the right direction, to be honest, definitely moving forward,” Reeves said after matching his second-highest scoring effort this season. “We feel more comfortable about ourselves going out there and just scoring.”
BOARD GAMES
Each team grabbed 33 rebounds, though Kentucky had a 26-19 edge on the defensive glass.
BIG PICTURE
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs started 2 of 9 from the field with seven consecutive misses, followed by an 0-for-7 stretch later in the half. Climbing out of the hole it caused proved tough, though they got within two possessions early in the second half before Kentucky stretched its advantage soon after.
Asked to explain the first half, coach Chris Jans said, "I wish I could, but I can’t. Obviously, very disappointed in the first half. Just surprised by the lack of urgency.”
Kentucky: Just when the Wildcats seemed to quell concerns about their defense, they allowed the Bulldogs back in the game with sloppy play on both ends. But they regrouped from that lull and weren't really threatened despite being outscored 44-38 in the paint. And their defense was pretty effective in the first half, scoring 10 points off eight turnovers and throwing off the Bulldogs.
“We practiced for two days on defense and tried to get better because we all know we are a really good offensive team," said Bradshaw, who had six rebounds and two blocks. "But we have been kind of slacking on defense, so we knew we had to pick (it) up.”
UP NEXT
Mississippi State: Hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Kentucky: Hosts Georgia on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Tolu Smith III vs. Aaron Bradshaw (D.J. Wagner gains possession) | |||
19:51 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
19:36 | +3 | Shakeel Moore makes three point jump shot (Tolu Smith III assists) | 3-2 | |
19:10 | Aaron Bradshaw misses two point jump shot | |||
19:08 | D.J. Jeffries defensive rebound | |||
19:02 | +2 | D.J. Jeffries makes two point layup | 5-2 | |
18:30 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Justin Edwards assists) | 5-5 | |
18:02 | Aaron Bradshaw personal foul (Tolu Smith III draws the foul) | |||
18:00 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
17:58 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
17:38 | Aaron Bradshaw misses three point jump shot | |||
17:36 | Dashawn Davis personal foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
17:21 | +3 | D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 5-8 | |
17:05 | Cameron Matthews turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Bradshaw steals) | |||
16:57 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
16:55 | Shakeel Moore defensive rebound | |||
16:43 | D.J. Jeffries misses three point jump shot | |||
16:41 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
16:33 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
16:31 | Cameron Matthews defensive rebound | |||
16:16 | Aaron Bradshaw blocks Cameron Matthews's two point dunk | |||
16:14 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
16:10 | Antonio Reeves turnover (bad pass) (Tolu Smith III steals) | |||
16:03 | Shakeel Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
16:01 | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | |||
15:55 | TV timeout | |||
15:48 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 5-10 | |
15:27 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks D.J. Jeffries's two point layup | |||
15:25 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
15:20 | Rob Dillingham turnover (lost ball) (Cameron Matthews steals) | |||
15:01 | Tre Mitchell blocks D.J. Jeffries's two point jump shot | |||
15:00 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
14:57 | Tolu Smith III turnover (lost ball) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
14:52 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 5-13 | |
14:36 | D.J. Jeffries turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
14:32 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 5-15 | |
14:28 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
14:22 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
14:20 | Cameron Matthews offensive rebound | |||
14:10 | +3 | Shawn Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (Shakeel Moore assists) | 8-15 | |
14:00 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
13:58 | Shawn Jones Jr. defensive rebound | |||
13:47 | +3 | Shawn Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (Cameron Matthews assists) | 11-15 | |
13:44 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
13:27 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
13:25 | Shawn Jones Jr. defensive rebound | |||
13:09 | Jimmy Bell Jr. turnover (traveling) | |||
12:49 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists) | 11-18 | |
12:32 | Shakeel Moore misses two point jump shot | |||
12:30 | Cameron Matthews offensive rebound | |||
12:23 | +3 | Josh Hubbard makes three point jump shot (Shawn Jones Jr. assists) | 14-18 | |
12:03 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
12:01 | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | |||
12:01 | Cameron Matthews personal foul (Aaron Bradshaw draws the foul) | |||
12:01 | Jaquan Scott shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
12:01 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-19 | |
12:01 | Rob Dillingham misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
12:01 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
11:59 | TV timeout | |||
11:43 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point jump shot | 14-21 | |
11:23 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
11:21 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
11:15 | Josh Hubbard personal foul (Justin Edwards draws the foul) | |||
11:02 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 14-23 | |
10:45 | +2 | Jimmy Bell Jr. makes two point jump shot (Dashawn Davis assists) | 16-23 | |
10:35 | Justin Edwards turnover (lost ball) (Jaquan Scott steals) | |||
10:12 | Jaquan Scott misses two point jump shot | |||
10:10 | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | |||
10:05 | Rob Dillingham misses two point jump shot | |||
10:03 | Justin Edwards offensive rebound | |||
9:59 | +2 | Justin Edwards makes two point layup | 16-25 | |
9:33 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
9:31 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
9:22 | Shawn Jones Jr. shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
9:22 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-26 | |
9:22 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-27 | |
9:14 | +2 | Dashawn Davis makes two point layup | 18-27 | |
8:51 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
8:49 | Josh Hubbard defensive rebound | |||
8:42 | +2 | Tolu Smith III makes two point layup (Josh Hubbard assists) | 20-27 | |
8:19 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point jump shot | 20-29 | |
7:57 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Tolu Smith III's two point layup | |||
7:55 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
7:55 | TV timeout | |||
7:46 | Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Tolu Smith III draws the foul) | |||
7:46 | Tolu Smith III misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:46 | Tolu Smith III misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:46 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
7:28 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
7:26 | Tolu Smith III defensive rebound | |||
6:58 | Tolu Smith III turnover (lost ball) (D.J. Wagner steals) | |||
6:49 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup (Rob Dillingham assists) | 20-31 | |
6:27 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
6:25 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
6:08 | +2 | Shakeel Moore makes two point layup (Josh Hubbard assists) | 22-31 | |
5:57 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 22-33 | |
5:48 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Josh Hubbard's two point layup | |||
5:46 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
5:41 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
5:39 | Tre Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
5:37 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists) | 22-36 | |
5:14 | Cameron Matthews misses two point jump shot | |||
5:12 | Cameron Matthews offensive rebound | |||
5:10 | Cameron Matthews misses two point layup | |||
5:08 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
4:48 | D.J. Jeffries shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
4:48 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-37 | |
4:48 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-38 | |
4:31 | Shakeel Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
4:29 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
4:24 | Shakeel Moore shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
4:24 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-39 | |
4:24 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-40 | |
4:02 | Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Cameron Matthews draws the foul) | |||
4:02 | +1 | Cameron Matthews makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-40 | |
4:02 | +1 | Cameron Matthews makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-40 | |
3:55 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
3:53 | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | |||
3:53 | D.J. Jeffries shooting foul (Aaron Bradshaw draws the foul) | |||
3:50 | TV timeout | |||
3:50 | +1 | Aaron Bradshaw makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-41 | |
3:50 | Aaron Bradshaw misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:50 | Jimmy Bell Jr. defensive rebound | |||
3:32 | Josh Hubbard turnover (traveling) | |||
3:19 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
3:17 | Tolu Smith III defensive rebound | |||
2:57 | Trey Fort misses three point jump shot | |||
2:55 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
2:49 | Justin Edwards misses two point layup | |||
2:47 | Tolu Smith III defensive rebound | |||
2:34 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
2:32 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
2:12 | +2 | Aaron Bradshaw makes two point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 24-43 | |
1:57 | +3 | Trey Fort makes three point jump shot (Tolu Smith III assists) | 27-43 | |
1:37 | +2 | Aaron Bradshaw makes two point layup (Rob Dillingham assists) | 27-45 | |
1:10 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
1:08 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
1:04 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup | 27-47 | |
0:46 | Tolu Smith III turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Bradshaw steals) | |||
0:43 | Antonio Reeves turnover (bad pass) (Shawn Jones Jr. steals) | |||
0:37 | +2 | Tolu Smith III makes two point dunk (Shawn Jones Jr. assists) | 29-47 | |
0:26 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
0:24 | Tolu Smith III defensive rebound | |||
0:10 | D.J. Jeffries turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:02 | Cameron Matthews blocks Rob Dillingham's three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |