Mitchell scores 23, Reeves adds 21 as No. 8 Kentucky uses hot shooting to beat Georgia 105-96
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Tre Mitchell scored 23 points, Antonio Reeves added 21 and No. 8 Kentucky shot 62% to beat Georgia 105-96 on Saturday night.
Zvonimir Ivišić added 13 points off the bench in his long-awaited debut, including 11 during a highlight-heavy 13-2 first-half run that broke the game open. The NCAA declared the 7-foot-2 Croatian forward eligible earlier in the day after a prolonged screening process that frustrated coach John Calipari and the Wildcats' fan base.
Jabri Abdur-Rahim scored 34 points for the Bulldogs (13-5, 3-2 Southeastern Conference), who lost their first road game this season after entering as one of four Division I squads unbeaten away from home. Georgia shot 50% (31 of 62) but couldn’t keep pace with hot-shooting Kentucky, which made 39 of 63 overall and 14 of 25 from behind the arc.
Kentucky (14-3, 4-1) led 54-35 at halftime, and the nation's top scoring team didn't let up as it led 96-68 with 7 1/2 minutes remaining and appeared to threaten several offensive milestones. The Bulldogs didn't wilt and closed the gap, and the Wildcats ended with their third triple-digit performance this season and first in SEC play since beating Tennessee 107-79 on Jan. 15, 2022.
“We have a really smart team,” Calipari said. “Offensively, really good. Defensively, in the first half we were pretty good. Second half with eight minutes to go. ... they just kept coming.”
D.J. Wagner added 18 points and a season-high 10 assists and Reed Sheppard 12 for Kentucky, which won its second in a row.
BIG Z’s BIG DEBUT
Anticipation grew immediately after Ivišić’s announcement on social media that the NCAA finally declared him eligible to play after patiently waiting for more than half a season. It swelled at Rupp Arena when he entered the game four minutes in and exploded with his no-look, behind-the-back pass to Reeves for a 3-pointer.
“It felt amazing," Ivišić said. "I was enjoying the moment, enjoying it with the crowd.”
Ivišić’s perimeter shooting created the biggest highlights as he sank three 3s and a 2-pointer in five possessions to help build a 41-24 lead. Known as “Big Z,” he ended with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, five boards and two assists in 16 minutes. He was also whistled for flagrant-1 foul in the first half and a technical in the second for hanging on the rim after a dunk.
“He (Calipari) lets me to shoot in practice, of course, but it just happened," added Ivišić, who did a Michael Jordan-esque shimmy after one jumper.
HALFTIME HOMAGE
Kentucky's 1983-84 squad that reached the NCAA Final Four was honored at halftime with Kenny Walker, Sam Bowie and Winston Bennett among the surviving members who returned for the reunion. Coach Joe B. Hall, Bret Bearup and Mel Turpin, all deceased, were also recognized.
BIG PICTURE
Georgia initially hung tough on the road before Kentucky went on the game-changing roll that threatened to make the game a rout. The Bulldogs deserve credit for outscoring Kentucky 61-51 to make it respectable, but seemed caught off guard defensively, especially stopping Kentucky from 3-point range. The Bulldogs' bench, which entered the contest ranked 16th nationally with a plus-14.3 point margin, was no match for the Wildcats' depth as the reserves were outscored 31-25.
“I was very surprised we dug ourselves that big of a hole for us to not see that coming," coach Mike White said, "but not surprised that the way that we continued to fight.”
Kentucky got ever closer to being whole with Ivišić's return and the freshman forward showed what could come with an impressive performance. His perimeter shooting helped the Wildcats finish 56% from deep and helped provide a 27-16 advantage in assists.
UP NEXT
Georgia hosts LSU on Wednesday night.
Kentucky visits South Carolina on Tuesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Russel Tchewa vs. Aaron Bradshaw (Silas Demary Jr. gains possession) | |||
19:46 | +3 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes three point jump shot (Russel Tchewa assists) | 3-0 | |
19:23 | +2 | Aaron Bradshaw makes two point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists) | 3-2 | |
19:06 | +2 | RJ Sunahara makes two point layup | 5-2 | |
19:06 | Jump ball. Aaron Bradshaw vs. Russel Tchewa (Aaron Bradshaw gains possession) | |||
18:38 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
18:36 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
18:35 | RJ Sunahara personal foul (Justin Edwards draws the foul) | |||
18:22 | RJ Sunahara personal foul | |||
18:08 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
18:06 | RJ Melendez defensive rebound | |||
18:01 | Noah Thomasson misses three point jump shot | |||
17:59 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
17:53 | +2 | Aaron Bradshaw makes two point layup (Antonio Reeves assists) | 5-4 | |
17:32 | +2 | RJ Melendez makes two point layup | 7-4 | |
17:14 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup | 7-6 | |
16:45 | RJ Melendez misses two point layup | |||
16:43 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
16:18 | Silas Demary Jr. shooting foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
16:18 | +1 | Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-7 | |
16:18 | +1 | Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-8 | |
16:13 | +3 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists) | 10-8 | |
16:00 | TV timeout | |||
15:54 | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | |||
15:52 | Justin Hill defensive rebound | |||
15:46 | Justin Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
15:46 | Tre Mitchell personal foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul) | |||
15:39 | Noah Thomasson misses two point layup | |||
15:37 | Russel Tchewa offensive rebound | |||
15:28 | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Jabri Abdur-Rahim's two point layup | |||
15:26 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
15:15 | Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot | |||
15:13 | Russel Tchewa defensive rebound | |||
15:05 | Justin Hill turnover (bad pass) | |||
14:51 | Russel Tchewa blocks Rob Dillingham's two point layup | |||
14:49 | Antonio Reeves offensive rebound | |||
14:42 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point dunk | 10-10 | |
14:11 | Noah Thomasson turnover (lost ball) (Antonio Reeves steals) | |||
14:06 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup (Zvonimir Ivisic assists) | 10-12 | |
14:06 | RJ Melendez shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
14:06 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-13 | |
13:52 | Silas Demary Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
13:50 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
13:41 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot | 10-16 | |
13:33 | RJ Melendez turnover (lost ball) (Zvonimir Ivisic steals) | |||
13:21 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Zvonimir Ivisic assists) | 10-19 | |
13:17 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
13:01 | +3 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes three point jump shot (Justin Hill assists) | 13-19 | |
12:45 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point layup (Antonio Reeves assists) | 13-21 | |
12:45 | Jalen DeLoach shooting foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
12:45 | Tre Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
12:45 | Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:35 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses three point jump shot | |||
12:33 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
12:16 | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup | 13-23 | |
12:10 | Silas Demary Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Rob Dillingham steals) | |||
12:01 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) (Jabri Abdur-Rahim steals) | |||
11:46 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses three point jump shot | |||
11:44 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
11:42 | Reed Sheppard turnover (lost ball) (Silas Demary Jr. steals) | |||
11:42 | Rob Dillingham personal foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul) | |||
11:41 | TV timeout | |||
11:33 | Justin Hill misses two point jump shot | |||
11:31 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
11:19 | Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (Russel Tchewa steals) | |||
11:04 | Justin Hill turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
10:58 | Justin Edwards misses two point layup | |||
10:56 | Russel Tchewa defensive rebound | |||
10:47 | +2 | Blue Cain makes two point layup | 15-23 | |
10:34 | +3 | Justin Edwards makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 15-26 | |
10:19 | Justin Edwards personal foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul) | |||
10:19 | +1 | Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-26 | |
10:19 | +1 | Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-26 | |
10:02 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
10:00 | Blue Cain defensive rebound | |||
9:38 | Justin Edwards shooting foul (Noah Thomasson draws the foul) | |||
9:38 | +1 | Noah Thomasson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-26 | |
9:38 | +1 | Noah Thomasson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-26 | |
9:19 | Aaron Bradshaw misses two point layup | |||
9:17 | Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | +2 | Russel Tchewa makes two point layup (Jabri Abdur-Rahim assists) | 21-26 | |
8:38 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point jump shot | 21-28 | |
8:20 | Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul) | |||
8:20 | +1 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-28 | |
8:20 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:20 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
8:09 | +3 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 22-31 | |
7:55 | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Silas Demary Jr.'s two point layup | |||
7:53 | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | |||
7:51 | Antonio Reeves turnover (lost ball) (Russel Tchewa steals) | |||
7:51 | TV timeout | |||
7:46 | Noah Thomasson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:44 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
7:36 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 22-33 | |
7:25 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses three point jump shot | |||
7:23 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
7:15 | Noah Thomasson misses two point jump shot | |||
7:13 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
7:06 | +2 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 22-35 | |
6:51 | +2 | Noah Thomasson makes two point layup | 24-35 | |
6:26 | +3 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 24-38 | |
6:07 | Noah Thomasson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:05 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
5:46 | +3 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 24-41 | |
5:35 | Justin Hill offensive foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
5:35 | Justin Hill turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:18 | D.J. Wagner turnover (lost ball) | |||
5:06 | Justin Hill turnover (bad pass) (D.J. Wagner steals) | |||
5:04 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
5:03 | Justin Hill defensive rebound | |||
4:57 | Noah Thomasson misses two point jump shot | |||
4:55 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
4:50 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) (Justin Hill steals) | |||
4:46 | +2 | RJ Melendez makes two point layup (Jabri Abdur-Rahim assists) | 26-41 | |
4:32 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 26-43 | |
4:21 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Justin Hill's two point layup | |||
4:19 | Russel Tchewa offensive rebound | |||
4:15 | Ugonna Onyenso shooting foul (Russel Tchewa draws the foul) | |||
4:15 | Russel Tchewa misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:15 | Russel Tchewa misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:15 | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | |||
4:01 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
3:59 | Justin Hill defensive rebound | |||
3:52 | Rob Dillingham shooting foul (Justin Hill draws the foul) | |||
3:52 | TV timeout | |||
3:52 | +1 | Justin Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-43 | |
3:52 | +1 | Justin Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-43 | |
3:26 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 28-45 | |
3:06 | +2 | RJ Melendez makes two point layup (Jalen DeLoach assists) | 30-45 | |
2:49 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 30-47 | |
2:29 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Jalen DeLoach's two point layup | |||
2:27 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
2:26 | Reed Sheppard personal foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul) | |||
2:26 | +1 | Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-47 | |
2:26 | +1 | Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-47 | |
2:08 | Zvonimir Ivisic turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:59 | RJ Sunahara turnover (bad pass) (Zvonimir Ivisic steals) | |||
1:44 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
1:42 | Jalen DeLoach defensive rebound | |||
1:35 | RJ Sunahara misses three point jump shot | |||
1:33 | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | |||
1:25 | Blue Cain personal foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
1:24 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-48 | |
1:24 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-49 | |
1:11 | +2 | Jalen DeLoach makes two point dunk (Justin Hill assists) | 34-49 | |
0:56 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 34-52 | |
0:45 | Justin Hill turnover (bad pass) (Ugonna Onyenso steals) | |||
0:30 | RJ Melendez personal foul (Aaron Bradshaw draws the foul) | |||
0:29 | +1 | Aaron Bradshaw makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-53 | |
0:29 | +1 | Aaron Bradshaw makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-54 | |
0:01 | Reed Sheppard shooting foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:01 | +1 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-54 | |
0:01 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
0:00 | Aaron Bradshaw turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:00 | End of period |