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Reeves leads the way with 24 points and No. 6 Kentucky beats Arkansas 63-57

AP
Jan 27, 2024

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Antonio Reeves scored a game-high 24 points and No. 6 Kentucky overcame a sub-par shooting performance to put away Arkansas 63-57 on Saturday.

The Wildcats (15-4, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) took their first lead with 12:54 remaining in the second half when Reed Sheppard stole the ball and punctuated a 7-0 run with a dunk.

About five minutes later, Reeves picked up a steal-and-slam to put the Wildcats ahead for good, 44-43.

“We would not fight back (Wednesday in a 79-62 loss against South Carolina). We let them do whatever they wanted to do to us. Today we fought back,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.

Kentucky missed 10 straight field goals during a stretch in the middle of the first half, allowing Arkansas to take a double-digit lead. The Razorbacks (10-10, 1-6) then went cold as both teams shot 29% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Kentucky shot 36.5% for the game.

Sheppard and Reeves each scored 14 points in the second half, with all of Sheppard’s coming after halftime. They combined for all seven of Kentucky’s points during the game-changing run.

“Reed and I, I told him, you come up to me in the game and you say ‘Stick with me, coach, just stick with me,'" Calipari said. “I was happy for Reed. He did some good stuff today. That’s who he is.”

Turnovers were Arkansas’ downfall. The Razorbacks, who finished with 13 giveaways, had a chance to cut the game to one possession with 2:20 left, but D.J. Wagner picked off a pass and went the other way for a layup to give Kentucky its largest lead of the game, six points. Sheppard later hit a 3-pointer.

Tre Mitchell scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Makhi Mitchell led Arkansas with 12 points, while Tramon Mark and Khalif Battle each scored 11.

Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, whose 13.9 points per game are second on the team, did not play for Kentucky because of illness.

DEVO GONE

Arkansas announced 10 minutes before tip that starting guard Devo Davis had “stepped away from the team.” No reason was given and no timetable was provided for his potential return. Davis has been a regular starter in four seasons with the Razorbacks and averaged 6.3 points per game this year.

BIG PICTURE

Kentucky is in a bit of a funk. The Wildcats lost earlier in the week by 17 points against South Carolina and even though they beat Arkansas on Saturday, not all is glimmering for John Calipari’s bunch.

Arkansas needs a push in the second half of SEC play just to make the NIT. The Razorbacks’ run of three straight Sweet 16s appears cooked before February, barring a miracle.

UP NEXT

Kentucky: Hosts Florida on Wednesday night.

Arkansas: Plays at Missouri on Wednesday night.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
UK
Wildcats
24
ARK
Razorbacks
26

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Aaron Bradshaw vs. Jalen Graham (Adou Thiero gains possession)
19:36		D.J. Wagner misses two point layup
19:34		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
19:16		Khalif Battle misses two point jump shot
19:14		Razorbacks offensive rebound
18:57		Jalen Graham turnover (bad pass) (Antonio Reeves steals)
18:46		Jalen Graham blocks Adou Thiero's two point layup
18:45		Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound
18:45		Chandler Lawson personal foul (Aaron Bradshaw draws the foul)
18:40		Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot
18:38		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
18:10		Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot
18:08		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
17:53		Adou Thiero misses two point layup
17:51		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
17:46	+3	El Ellis makes three point jump shot (Khalif Battle assists)	0-3
17:32		Antonio Reeves turnover (lost ball) (Tramon Mark steals)
17:19		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
17:17		Adou Thiero defensive rebound
17:16		Jalen Graham personal foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul)
16:47		Reed Sheppard misses two point layup
16:45		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
16:31		El Ellis misses two point layup
16:29		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
16:22	+3	Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists)	3-3
16:02		Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot
16:00		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
15:56		Khalif Battle blocks Reed Sheppard's two point layup
15:54		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
15:44	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point layup (Chandler Lawson assists)	3-5
15:36		Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot
15:34		El Ellis defensive rebound
15:12	+2	Jalen Graham makes two point hook shot	3-7
15:01		Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot
14:59		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
14:40		Official timeout
14:40		TV timeout
14:34		El Ellis turnover (bad pass)
14:25		Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot
14:23		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
14:09	+2	Jalen Graham makes two point hook shot	3-9
13:45		Reed Sheppard misses two point jump shot
13:43		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
13:30		Justin Edwards personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul)
13:16		El Ellis turnover (lost ball) (Reed Sheppard steals)
13:09		Jalen Graham shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul)
13:09		Antonio Reeves misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:09	+1	Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-9
12:41		Chandler Lawson turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals)
12:39		Justin Edwards turnover (traveling)
12:24		Reed Sheppard blocks El Ellis's two point jump shot
12:22		D.J. Wagner defensive rebound
12:07		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
12:05		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
11:51		Tramon Mark turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mitchell steals)
11:31		Makhi Mitchell blocks D.J. Wagner's two point layup
11:29		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
11:14		D.J. Wagner personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul)
11:14		TV timeout
11:10		Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot
11:08		Justin Edwards defensive rebound
10:43		Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot
10:41		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
10:34		Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot
10:32		Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound
10:25	+3	Chandler Lawson makes three point jump shot (Tramon Mark assists)	4-12
10:08		D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot
10:06		Adou Thiero offensive rebound
9:47		Ugonna Onyenso misses three point jump shot
9:45		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
9:44		Adou Thiero personal foul
9:34	+2	Layden Blocker makes two point jump shot	4-14
9:25	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot	6-14
9:18		Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot
9:16		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
9:04		Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot
9:02		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
8:54	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot	6-16
8:47		Antonio Reeves misses two point layup
8:45		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
8:41		Adou Thiero personal foul
8:19		Layden Blocker misses three point jump shot
8:17		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
8:08	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point layup	8-16
7:48		Chandler Lawson misses two point jump shot
7:46		Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound
7:40	+2	Makhi Mitchell makes two point layup	8-18
7:22		Reed Sheppard misses two point jump shot
7:20		El Ellis defensive rebound
7:09		Joseph Pinion misses three point jump shot
7:07		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
7:01		Layden Blocker personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
7:01		TV timeout
6:59	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists)	10-18
6:44		El Ellis misses two point layup
6:42		Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound
6:27	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point layup	12-18
6:04		Aaron Bradshaw shooting foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul)
6:04	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	12-19
6:04	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-20
5:51		Chandler Lawson blocks Aaron Bradshaw's two point dunk
5:49		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
5:31		Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot
5:29		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
5:23		Antonio Reeves misses two point layup
5:23		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
5:23		Aaron Bradshaw personal foul
5:04		Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot
5:02		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
4:53		Chandler Lawson shooting foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul)
4:53		Tre Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:53	+1	Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-20
4:36		Tramon Mark misses two point layup
4:36		Khalif Battle offensive rebound
4:36		Reed Sheppard personal foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul)
4:36		Makhi Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:36		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
4:29		Tramon Mark personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
4:21	+2	Ugonna Onyenso makes two point dunk (Tre Mitchell assists)	15-20
3:57		Makhi Mitchell misses two point jump shot
3:55		Tramon Mark offensive rebound
3:54		Ugonna Onyenso personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul)
3:54		TV timeout
3:54	+1	Tramon Mark makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-21
3:54		Tramon Mark misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:54		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
3:41	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	18-21
3:22		Makhi Mitchell misses two point layup
3:20		Wildcats defensive rebound
3:04	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	20-21
2:40	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot	20-23
2:28		Antonio Reeves turnover (back court violation)
2:17		Tre Mitchell blocks El Ellis's two point jump shot
2:16		Razorbacks offensive rebound
2:11		Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot
2:09		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
1:47		Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot
1:45		Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound
1:39	+2	Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup	22-23
1:27		Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot
1:25		Wildcats defensive rebound
1:10		Tre Mitchell flagrant 1 (Jeremiah Davenport draws the foul)
1:10		Tre Mitchell turnover (offensive foul)
1:10		Official timeout
1:10	+1	Jeremiah Davenport makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2	22-24
1:10		Jeremiah Davenport misses flagrant free throw 2 of 2
0:46		Ugonna Onyenso blocks El Ellis's two point layup
0:44		Adou Thiero defensive rebound
0:44		Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:16		Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot
0:12		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
0:09		Reed Sheppard shooting foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
0:09	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-25
0:09	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-26
0:02		Layden Blocker personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
0:02	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-26
0:02	+1	D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-26
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
UK
Wildcats
39
ARK
Razorbacks
31

Time		Play	Score
19:43		Adou Thiero blocks Jalen Graham's two point turnaround hook shot
19:41		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
19:37		El Ellis blocks D.J. Wagner's two point driving layup
19:35		Wildcats offensive rebound
19:29		Jalen Graham personal foul
19:16		Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot
19:14		Jalen Graham defensive rebound
19:07	+2	El Ellis makes two point pullup jump shot	24-28
18:51		Ugonna Onyenso turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Graham steals)
18:44		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
18:42		Adou Thiero defensive rebound
18:32	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point driving layup	26-28
18:32		Khalif Battle shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul)
18:32	+1	Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 1	27-28
18:15		Tramon Mark turnover (bad pass)
18:06		Antonio Reeves misses two point driving layup
18:04		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
17:50		Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot
17:48		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
17:43		El Ellis personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul)
17:29		Chandler Lawson shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul)
17:29		Adou Thiero misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:29	+1	Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-28
17:17	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Tramon Mark assists)	28-31
17:04	+3	Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists)	31-31
16:50		Khalif Battle misses two point driving layup
16:48		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
16:43		Makhi Mitchell blocks Tre Mitchell's two point driving layup
16:41		El Ellis defensive rebound
16:35	+2	Jalen Graham makes two point alley-oop dunk (El Ellis assists)	31-33
16:28		D.J. Wagner turnover (bad pass) (Khalif Battle steals)
16:27		Tre Mitchell personal foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
16:14		Aaron Bradshaw shooting foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul)
16:14	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-34
16:14	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-35
15:54		D.J. Wagner turnover (bad pass) (Tramon Mark steals)
15:45	+2	Khalif Battle makes two point driving layup	31-37
15:26		Makhi Mitchell blocks D.J. Wagner's two point driving layup
15:24		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
15:10		TV timeout
15:05		Ugonna Onyenso blocks Khalif Battle's two point driving layup
15:03		Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound
14:39		Adou Thiero misses two point cutting layup
14:37		Adou Thiero offensive rebound
14:37		Adou Thiero misses two point layup
14:36		Adou Thiero offensive rebound
14:32		Adou Thiero misses two point layup
14:30		Tramon Mark defensive rebound
14:11		Ugonna Onyenso blocks Jalen Graham's two point dunk
14:09		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
14:03	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Justin Edwards assists)	34-37
13:43		El Ellis misses three point pullup jump shot
13:41		Antonio Reeves defensive rebound
13:22	+2	Reed Sheppard makes two point driving layup	36-37
13:00		El Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals)
12:56	+2	Reed Sheppard makes two point driving dunk	38-37
12:54		Razorbacks 30 second timeout
12:54		TV timeout
12:40	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point pullup bank jump shot	38-39
12:19		Justin Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot
12:17		Jalen Graham defensive rebound
11:58		Makhi Mitchell misses two point jump shot
11:56		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
11:44		Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot
11:42		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
11:15		Jalen Graham turnover (traveling)
11:15		TV timeout
11:01	+2	Ugonna Onyenso makes two point driving dunk	40-39
10:38	+2	Jalen Graham makes two point turnaround hook shot (Makhi Mitchell assists)	40-41
10:23	+2	Reed Sheppard makes two point driving finger roll layup	42-41
10:05		Jalen Graham misses two point driving layup
10:04		Razorbacks offensive rebound
10:04		D.J. Wagner personal foul
9:50		Makhi Mitchell turnover (traveling)
9:36		Antonio Reeves misses three point running jump shot
9:34		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
9:20		El Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mitchell steals)
9:00		Jalen Graham personal foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul)
8:47		Antonio Reeves misses two point driving floating jump shot
8:45		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
8:37		Tramon Mark turnover (lost ball) (Antonio Reeves steals)
8:33	+2	Antonio Reeves makes two point driving dunk	44-41
8:19	+2	Chandler Lawson makes two point layup (Tramon Mark assists)	44-43
8:00		TV timeout
7:49		Reed Sheppard misses two point running pullup jump shot
7:47		Chandler Lawson defensive rebound
7:36		Tramon Mark misses two point pullup jump shot
7:34		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
7:25	+3	Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists)	47-43
7:08		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
7:06		Tre Mitchell defensive rebound
6:43		Chandler Lawson blocks Tre Mitchell's two point turnaround jump shot
6:40		Razorbacks defensive rebound
6:26	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Chandler Lawson assists)	47-46
6:14		Wildcats 30 second timeout
6:00		Antonio Reeves turnover (bad pass) (Makhi Mitchell steals)
5:43		Tramon Mark misses two point pullup jump shot
5:41		Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound
5:35		Makhi Mitchell blocks Antonio Reeves's two point driving reverse layup
5:33		Tre Mitchell offensive rebound
5:31		D.J. Wagner misses two point layup
5:29		Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound
5:22	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists)	50-46
5:09		Antonio Reeves personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul)
4:56		Chandler Lawson misses two point turnaround jump shot
4:54		Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound
4:54		Ugonna Onyenso shooting foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul)
4:54	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-47
4:54	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-48
4:42	+3	Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists)	53-48
4:23	+2	Tramon Mark makes two point driving layup	53-50
4:14		Official timeout
4:14		TV timeout
4:05		Reed Sheppard misses two point driving floating jump shot
4:03		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
3:42		Antonio Reeves personal foul (El Ellis draws the foul)
3:35		Tramon Mark misses two point pullup jump shot
3:33		Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound
3:10		Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot
3:08		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
2:55	+2	El Ellis makes two point driving finger roll layup	53-52
2:42	+3	Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (Aaron Bradshaw assists)	56-52
2:22		El Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals)
2:17	+2	D.J. Wagner makes two point driving layup (Reed Sheppard assists)	58-52
1:49		Khalif Battle turnover (lost ball)
1:27	+3	Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Tre Mitchell assists)	61-52
1:11		El Ellis misses two point pullup jump shot
1:09		Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound
1:07		Tre Mitchell shooting foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul)
1:07		Makhi Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:07	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-53
0:55		Tramon Mark personal foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul)
0:54		Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass)
0:44		Chandler Lawson misses three point jump shot
0:42		Reed Sheppard defensive rebound
0:39		Layden Blocker personal foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul)
0:39	+1	Reed Sheppard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-53
0:39	+1	Reed Sheppard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-53
0:32		Khalif Battle misses three point pullup jump shot
0:28		Razorbacks offensive rebound
0:22		Layden Blocker misses three point jump shot
0:19		Razorbacks offensive rebound
0:17		Ugonna Onyenso shooting foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
0:17		Khalif Battle misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:17	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-54
0:08		Khalif Battle personal foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul)
0:08		Reed Sheppard misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:08		Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound
0:01	+2	Makhi Mitchell makes two point cutting layup (Khalif Battle assists)	63-56
0:01		Adou Thiero shooting foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1	63-57
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1