In a closely contested match, Kentucky Wildcats secured a victory against the Vanderbilt Commodores with a final score of 93-77, improving to 22-8 overall and 12-6 in the SEC. Throughout the game, Kentucky showcased a mix of offensive and defensive strategies that saw them trailing at various points but ultimately leading at halftime with a score of 45-40. The Wildcats' performance was highlighted by Antonio Reeves' significant contributions, including a notable three-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Despite Vanderbilt's efforts and leading at different stages of the first half, Kentucky's ability to make crucial shots and maintain a solid defense helped them close out their home schedule with a win before facing Tennessee, marking the end of their regular season. Vanderbilt falls to 8-22 and 3-14 in the SEC.
Adou Thiero and DJ Wagner get their third fouls early in the second half. But now the nukes are on the floor for Kentucky. Reed, Reeves, Rob, Edwards + Onyenso. Good lucky, defense.
"Sheppard, cold-blooded three." @KentuckyMBB 👌 https://t.co/evZpqLuT1n
Touching Senior Day prior to tipoff for @Vol_Hoops seniors 🧡 https://t.co/YCxHvS7xiX
Kentucky led by 11 with 2:45 to go in the first half. Kentucky leads by 1 with 19:20 to go in the second half.
Second half is about to start, and Zakai Zeigler gets to come back out and play with his friends now.
Halftime: Kentucky 33, Tennessee 29 Box score: https://t.co/Y8YVRPHe9E
When @UKCoachCalipari ‘s @KentuckyMBB makes a commitment to play DEFENSE like they did earlier this year vs @AuburnMBB & the way they played in the 1st half today vs a super @Vol_Hoops team @SEC regular season Champs they can win the National title . Lead at half 33-29!
HALFTIME: Kentucky 33, Tennessee 29 Justin Edwards (13 points) and Antonio Reeves (11) are a combined 11 of 18 shooting and 5 of 8 from deep. The rest of the Cats: 2 of 16 FG, 1 of 8 3s. Dalton Knecht (19) is 5-12 FG, 3-6 3s. Rest of the Vols: 3-20 FG, 1 of 7 3s.
WHAT A WAY TO END THE HALF FOR @Vol_Hoops WITH A JAM 💥 https://t.co/uKwAJAS2kO
HALFTIME: Kentucky 33, Tennessee 29. Wildcats nearly had a six-point lead at the break, but Jonas Aidoo had a putback dunk for the Vols just before time expired. Justin Edwards has 13 points while Antonio Reeves has 11. Dalton Knecht at 19 points.
HALFTIME IN KNOXVILLE: No. 15 Kentucky 33, No. 4 Tennessee 29. Cats the deserving leaders, but Dalton Knecht's 19 points have kept Tennessee right in the game. Buckle up. This game is consistently warming up and could get hot down the stretch.
*19 points. Vols have only made seven shots this half. Knecht has five of them. Non-Knechts are 2 of 19. https://t.co/VUUZku43oA
"FROM LOGO LAND!" @Vol_Hoops Dalton Knecht from DEEP 👌 https://t.co/aUuy2ZpMJt
And Dalton Knecht has detonated. He has Tennessee's last 11 points and 15 overall, and the Kentucky lead is four.
Dalton Knecht has 19 points for Tennessee; his closest teammate has three (Zakai Zeilger.) Truly a one-man team so far.
Nobody else is showing up, so let Dalton be Dalton. @Vol_Hoops
Dalton Knecht has scored nine straight points and Tennessee has cut Kentucky lead to 31-27 with 1:14 left in the first half. John Calipari calls time to discuss it. #BBN #ukbasketball
It's a 7-0 run in the last 1:11 for Tennessee, including a 3 from the logo by Dalton Knecht. John Calipari calls timeout with Kentucky leading 31-27. There's 1:14 left in the half.
Outside of Dalton Knecht's 19 points, the rest of Tennessee's team is shooting 2-of-19 and has eight points ... Kentucky is up 31-27 near halftime, but Knecht is on his way to another of those days.
Kentucky 31, #Vols 27, 1:14/2ndH. LONG three from Knecht, who's up to 19 points, and Kentucky takes a timeout.
"Long distant KNECHT-ion." Dalton Knecht has 15 of 23 @Vol_Hoops points. https://t.co/Qp7nuxwt3F
(Whispers quietly: Kentucky is playing great but Tennessee is hanging in there and there's a lot of time left.)
Justin Edwards is having one of those games again for Kentucky. Great shot selection from him so far has UK up double digits #BBN @WHAS11
There are currently more combined blocks (10) in this @KentuckyMBB-@Vol_Hoops game than there have been assists (7). https://t.co/Hs3GhHHPs9
Didn’t anticipate a rock fight, but non-Knecht Vols can’t buy one and Kentucky leads 28-18 with 3:03 left in the first. Someone else for Tennessee needs to make a play.
Kentucky 28, #Vols 18, 3:03/2ndH. Cats just playing better so far. TN cold on offense, and UK beating Vols off the bounce to lead to collapsed defense, open threes. Dalton Knecht to the line for two free throws after this media timeout on the floor.
Tennessee has made 5 shots. UK's Justin Edwards has made 4. Kentucky 28, Tennessee 18 with 3:03 left in 1H. #BBN #ukbasketball
Kentucky has closed down the lane today. Just six points in the paint for Tennessee. Vols 0 for 6 on layups. Onyenso having a large presence today. This is a really strong defensive effort by the Cats.
Kentucky 20, #Vols 16, 7:53/2ndH. Game starting to heat up a little bit in a few ways. Cats ball after this media timeout on the floor.
Tennessee now 5-of-21 from the floor for 23.8 percent. Kentucky 20, Tennessee 16 with 7:53 left in 1H. #BBN #ukbasketball
Kentucky down, 10-9, to Tennessee despite the Vols not making a field goal for nearly three minutes. But Tennessee already has shot seven free throws. Wildcats losing despite Vols being just 2 for 13 (15.4%) from the field so far.
Tennessee 10, Kentucky 9 with 11:57 left in the 1H. Points hard to come by. Vols are 2-of-13 from the floor. Cats are 4-of-11. #BBN #ukbasketball
Nightmarish foul situation for Kentucky. That’s seven in the first eight minutes. Two each for Dillingham and Z. It’s a one-point game, but the Vols might shoot 50 free throws today.
#Vols 10, Kentucky 9, 11:57/2ndH. Kentucky's length on defense is bothering Tennessee, and Tennessee's strength on defense is bothering Kentucky. Vols ball after this media timeout on the floor.
Kentucky 4, #Vols 3, 15:39/1stH. Physical start, good defense both ways. Dalton Knecht to the line for two free throws after this media timeout on the floor.
Kentucky beats Vanderbilt! https://t.co/OmfuFxaDi3
FINAL: Kentucky 93, Vanderbilt 77 UK closes out their home schedule with a win before a monster test at Tennessee Saturday #BBN @WHAS11 https://t.co/Q4LU1cOiID
Final: Kentucky 93, Vanderbilt 77. Final box: https://t.co/dvBgqq1r3O
FINAL: Kentucky 93, Vanderbilt 77. Wildcats improve to 22-8 overall and 12-6 in the SEC while the Commodores fall to 8-22 and 3-14, respectively. Kentucky ends the 2023-24 regular season Saturday at Tennesee. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. in Knoxville.
Kentucky 84, Vanderbilt 65 Man, when this team clicks on both sides of the floor there are few teams like them in the country. 4:04 to go at Rupp #BBN @WHAS11
Rob Dillingham with 23 points. Reed Sheppard with 10 assists and Kentucky leads Vanderbilt 72-60 with 7:08 left at Rupp. #BBN #ukbasketball
TIMEOUT: Kentucky 53, Vanderbilt 47 Justin Edwards slams home one of the hardest dunks I’ve seen from UK this season, and hits a 3 a possession later. Vandy gets an and-1 just before the break #BBN @WHAS11
TIMEOUT: Kentucky 53, Vanderbilt 57 Justin Edwards slams home one of the hardest dunks I’ve seen from UK this season, and hits a 3 a possession later. Vandy gets an and-1 just before the break #BBN @WHAS11
Halftime: Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 40 Cats scored on their final eight possessions of the first half. Here's the box: https://t.co/npRyP5ZJoT
Honestly, though, to hell with defense. LOL. Kentucky made four straight 3s in the final 99 seconds of the first half. Lead Vanderbilt 45-40 at the half. Just an absurdly confusing, entertaining team.
HALFTIME: Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 40. Antonio Reeves knocks it down from welllllllllllll beyond the 3-point line as the buzzer sounds. Wildcats made their final four shots of the half. UK trailed for more than 12 minutes before its late surge.
Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 34 Cats able to force a shot clock violation before the timeout, but the transition defense is a big reason why they’re down in this one. 2:39 left in the 1st #BBN @WHAS11
Kentucky slowly finding its form offensively. But Vanderbilt is in a groove, having made four of its last five shots. UK trails, 34-31, with 2:39 to play in the half.
Vanderbilt 34, Kentucky 31 with 2:39 left in first half. Rupp Arena crowd trying to pick up the Cats. #BBN #ukbasketball
Kentucky 16, Vandy 22 Cats getting killed by threes, capped off with a steal and corner trey on that last possession. 9:13 to go in the half #BBN @WHAS11
Not the best start for Kentucky on senior night so far: It trails Vanderbilt, 22-16, with 9:13 remainign in the first half. Commodores already have knocked down three 3-pointers and are 9 of 19 from the field.
Vanderbilt now with a 22-16 lead on Kentucky and Calipari calls time with 9:13 left in first half. Cats are ice cold from three-point range -- 1-of-8.
TIMEOUT: Kentucky 10, Vandy 11 Antonio Reeves per usual doing the heavy lifting for the Cats offensively, but UK is giving up way too many open looks to the Commodores, and are able to hold a lead dispite shooting 38% so far #BBN @WHAS11
Vanderbilt is still up at the 12:00 1H TV time. Commodores lead Kentucky 11-10. Cats 5-of-13 from the floor and have missed all six of their three-point attempts. #BBN #ukbasketball