Freshman Justin Edwards scores 28, leading No. 17 Kentucky past No. 13 Alabama 117-95
LEXINGTON, Ky (AP) Kentucky coach John Calipari kept telling Justin Edwards he believed in him, even as the freshman struggled through an inconsistent season.
That belief paid off Saturday as Edwards scored a season-high 28 points, leading No. 17 Kentucky to a 117-95 win over No. 13 Alabama.
Edwards scored his previous high against Vanderbilt on Feb. 6, when he finished with 17 points.
“I kept saying you’re going to break through. I believe in you,” Calipari said. “He said ‘Coach, I believe in you.’ And I said, you just got to stay the course.”
Against Alabama, Edwards was 10 for 10 from the field and 4 for 4 from 3-point distance. His only miss came at the free throw line, where he finished 4 for 5.
“It felt good to go out and show I can play like I did,” Edwards said. “It means a lot because (my teammates) believe in me. I knew I hadn’t missed (a shot), but I knocked on wood.”
Antonio Reeves scored 24 points, and Zvonimir Ivisic came off the bench to score 18 points for the Wildcats (19-8, 9-5 SEC). Kentucky shot 63% from the field, 54% from 3-point distance and finished a point short of its highest scoring game of the season, a 118-82 win over Marshall on Nov. 25. It was the second-most points Kentucky has scored in an SEC game in Rupp Arena since posting 127 against LSU in 1995.
Rylan Griffen scored 21 points and Mark Sears added 20 for Alabama (19-8, 11-3), which shot 56% from the field and turned the ball over 16 times, leading to 29 points by Kentucky.
“Kentucky was ready to play tonight and we weren’t. They were great and we looked awful,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “I told our guys we have had question marks about our defense all year.”
The conference showdown between the pair of highly ranked teams and the two top scoring offenses in the nation got off to a quick start. Alabama held a 29-28 lead with 9:39 left in the first half before Kentucky went on a 20-2 run over the next six minutes, seizing control of the game and carrying a 58-42 lead into halftime.
Alabama got within 14 in the second half at 68-54 with 16:45 left, but Kentucky shut down any hopes of rally with 12 unanswered points in less than 90 seconds, with Edwards accounting for seven of those points, including a four-point play.
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: The Tide lost their tenuous hold on first-place in the SEC as No. 5 Tennessee beat Texas A&M 86-51 on Saturday night and moved into a tie atop the conference standings.
Kentucky: The Wildcats sorely needed a dominating home win after dropping three of their last four games in Rupp Arena. Kentucky kept alive a path to a double-bye in the conference tournament.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Alabama: The Tide should not be hurt too much by another road loss, although they did need overtime to beat Florida 98-93 on Wednesday.
Kentucky: The Wildcats should stay about where they are in the polls, despite blowing a 15-point lead on the road to LSU on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Alabama: At Mississippi on Wednesday.
Kentucky: At Mississippi State on Tuesday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | Grant Nelson vs. Ugonna Onyenso (Wildcats gains possession) | ||
| 19:38 | | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup (D.J. Wagner assists) | 0-2 |
| 19:28 |  | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 2-2 |
| 19:13 | | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 19:11 | | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | ||
| 19:00 | | Ugonna Onyenso shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul) | ||
| 19:00 | | Grant Nelson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 19:00 | | +1 | Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-2 |
| 18:42 | | Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | ||
| 18:42 | | Antonio Reeves misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 18:42 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-3 |
| 18:36 | | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 5-3 |
| 18:10 | | Adou Thiero misses two point jump shot | ||
| 18:08 | | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | ||
| 18:02 | | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 7-3 |
| 17:41 | | Rylan Griffen personal foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | ||
| 17:30 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 7-5 |
| 17:06 | | Jarin Stevenson misses two point layup | ||
| 17:04 | | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 16:59 | | Mark Sears shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | ||
| 16:59 | | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-6 |
| 16:59 | | Rob Dillingham misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 16:59 | | Justin Edwards offensive rebound | ||
| 16:50 | | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 7-9 |
| 16:36 | | Grant Nelson misses two point hook shot | ||
| 16:34 | | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | ||
| 16:29 | | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | ||
| 16:27 | | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | ||
| 16:22 | | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 9-9 |
| 16:08 | | +3 | Justin Edwards makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 9-12 |
| 15:52 | | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 12-12 |
| 15:43 | | Zvonimir Ivisic turnover (traveling) | ||
| 15:43 | | TV timeout | ||
| 15:21 | | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 14-12 |
| 14:56 | | +2 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 14-14 |
| 14:41 | | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists) | 16-14 |
| 14:30 | | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | ||
| 14:28 | | Justin Edwards offensive rebound | ||
| 14:23 | | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 14:21 | | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | ||
| 14:11 | | +3 | Mark Sears makes three point jump shot | 19-14 |
| 13:58 | | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 19-17 |
| 13:37 | | +3 | Aaron Estrada makes three point jump shot (Rylan Griffen assists) | 22-17 |
| 13:25 | | Zvonimir Ivisic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 13:23 | | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | ||
| 13:01 | | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Nick Pringle's two point dunk | ||
| 12:59 | | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 12:51 | | Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass) | ||
| 12:40 | | Rylan Griffen misses two point layup | ||
| 12:38 | | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 12:32 | | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 22-20 |
| 12:24 | | Aaron Estrada turnover (lost ball) (Reed Sheppard steals) | ||
| 12:05 | | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 22-23 |
| 11:41 | | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup (Mark Sears assists) | 24-23 |
| 11:32 | | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup (Rob Dillingham assists) | 24-25 |
| 11:21 | | Adou Thiero blocks Mouhamed Dioubate's two point layup | ||
| 11:19 | | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 11:13 | | Reed Sheppard turnover (out of bounds) | ||
| 11:13 | | TV timeout | ||
| 11:07 | | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists) | 26-25 |
| 10:49 | | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:47 | | Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound | ||
| 10:38 | | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point layup | 26-27 |
| 10:17 | | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Sam Walters's two point layup | ||
| 10:15 | | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:12 | | Mark Sears personal foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | ||
| 9:54 | | Mouhamed Dioubate shooting foul (Ugonna Onyenso draws the foul) | ||
| 9:54 | | Ugonna Onyenso misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:54 | | +1 | Ugonna Onyenso makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-28 |
| 9:38 | | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 29-28 |
| 9:16 | | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 29-30 |
| 8:47 | | Sam Walters turnover (bad pass) (Adou Thiero steals) | ||
| 8:42 | | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point layup | 29-32 |
| 8:42 | | Aaron Estrada shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | ||
| 8:42 | | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-33 |
| 8:27 | | Aaron Estrada turnover (bad pass) (Ugonna Onyenso steals) | ||
| 8:21 | | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point layup (D.J. Wagner assists) | 29-35 |
| 8:09 | | Adou Thiero personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | ||
| 8:04 | | Mark Sears turnover (traveling) | ||
| 7:56 | | Ugonna Onyenso offensive foul | ||
| 7:56 | | Ugonna Onyenso turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:56 | | TV timeout | ||
| 7:35 | | Grant Nelson offensive foul | ||
| 7:35 | | Grant Nelson turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:21 | | +2 | Justin Edwards makes two point jump shot | 29-37 |
| 6:59 | | D.J. Wagner personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | ||
| 6:53 | | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 31-37 |
| 6:35 | | Nick Pringle shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | ||
| 6:35 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-38 |
| 6:35 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-39 |
| 6:14 | | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:12 | | Grant Nelson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:58 | | Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) (Antonio Reeves steals) | ||
| 5:55 | | Grant Nelson shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | ||
| 5:55 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-40 |
| 5:55 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-41 |
| 5:39 | | Zvonimir Ivisic personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | ||
| 5:30 | | Mark Sears misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:28 | | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 5:22 | | +2 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes two point alley-oop dunk (Rob Dillingham assists) | 31-43 |
| 5:22 | | Nick Pringle shooting foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul) | ||
| 5:22 | | Crimson Tide 30 second timeout | ||
| 5:22 | | +1 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 31-44 |
| 5:09 | | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:09 | | Jarin Stevenson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:09 | | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:07 | | Crimson Tide offensive rebound | ||
| 4:58 | | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Aaron Estrada's two point layup | ||
| 4:56 | | Wildcats defensive rebound | ||
| 4:51 | | Rob Dillingham personal foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul) | ||
| 4:51 | | Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 4:43 | | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | ||
| 4:41 | | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:22 | | Jarin Stevenson turnover (lost ball) (Antonio Reeves steals) | ||
| 4:09 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 31-46 |
| 3:51 | | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Nick Pringle's two point layup | ||
| 3:49 | | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:39 | | Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | ||
| 3:43 | | TV timeout | ||
| 3:39 | | +1 | D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-47 |
| 3:39 | | +1 | D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-48 |
| 3:25 | | D.J. Wagner personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | ||
| 3:25 | | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-48 |
| 3:25 | | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-48 |
| 3:11 | | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:09 | | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Rob Dillingham personal foul (Rylan Griffen draws the foul) | ||
| 3:03 | | +1 | Rylan Griffen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-48 |
| 3:03 | | +1 | Rylan Griffen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-48 |
| 2:38 | | +3 | Justin Edwards makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 35-51 |
| 2:31 | | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:29 | | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | ||
| 2:16 | | Adou Thiero misses two point dunk | ||
| 2:14 | | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | ||
| 2:08 | | Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Justin Edwards steals) | ||
| 2:03 | | +2 | Justin Edwards makes two point layup | 35-53 |
| 1:49 | | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point layup | 37-53 |
| 1:36 | | Reed Sheppard misses two point jump shot | ||
| 1:34 | | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | ||
| 1:29 | | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 39-53 |
| 1:23 | | Wildcats 30 second timeout | ||
| 1:02 | | +3 | Justin Edwards makes three point jump shot (Adou Thiero assists) | 39-56 |
| 0:43 | | Adou Thiero shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul) | ||
| 0:43 | | +1 | Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-56 |
| 0:43 | | Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:43 | | Nick Pringle offensive rebound | ||
| 0:32 | | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 42-56 |
| 0:09 | | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point jump shot (Aaron Bradshaw assists) | 42-58 |
| 0:01 | | Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals) | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |