In a thrilling showdown on Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats secured a narrow 87-85 victory over the Florida Gators at the Exatech Center in Gainesville. Although Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw initially faced some struggles, he came up clutch in the final 10 minutes of the game, making crucial plays to propel the sixth-ranked Cats to victory.
Bradshaw may have missed his first four shots, but he redeemed himself by sinking his last three, including a pivotal three-pointer late in the game. His efforts contributed to his total of 10 points, along with seven rebounds, two steals, and a crucial blocked shot that helped Kentucky rally in the second half.
Kentucky received standout performances from Antonio Reeves with 19 points, as well as Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner with 14 points each. Tre Mitchell also made his presence known with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The game started off favorably for Kentucky, taking an early 6-2 lead within the first three minutes. However, the Gators quickly gained momentum, embarking on a 14-4 run to claim a 16-10 advantage.
Undeterred, Kentucky fought back, led by Reeves’ five points and Sheppard’s four, narrowing the gap to one point at 22-21. Ugonna Onyenso’s basket and free throw allowed the Cats to tie the game at 27-27.
Florida responded with a 12-2 run, establishing a double-digit lead of 39-29 with 3:55 left in the first half. Despite the deficit, Kentucky showed resilience, fueled by Mitchell and Reeves, to bring the score within six at 43-37. Nevertheless, the Gators scored the final basket of the half, maintaining a 45-37 advantage. Kentucky struggled from behind the arc, converting only one of their 10 attempts, while also committing seven turnovers with just two assists in the first half.
The beginning of the second half mirrored the first, with Kentucky launching a 7-2 run, including five points from Reeves, to cut the deficit to 47-44. The Cats continued their surge, ultimately taking the lead at 51-49 on Wagner’s three-pointer.
Unfortunately, Kentucky’s lead was short-lived as Florida promptly responded with nine consecutive points, reclaiming a 58-51 lead. Wagner interrupted the run with a layup and free throw, bringing the Cats within four. Sheppard’s three-pointer then narrowed the gap to just one point at 58-57.
Florida extended their lead to 65-59 with 9:42 left to play, but Kentucky refused to surrender. The Cats relentlessly chipped away at the Gators’ lead, eventually tying the game at 72 apiece with a basket and free throw from Reeves.
The score remained deadlocked at 74 and 76 until Bradshaw made a crucial defensive play, blocking Alex Condon’s shot, before sinking a three-pointer from the top of the key. Bradshaw’s heroics gave Kentucky a 79-76 lead with 1:27 left on the clock.
Kentucky managed to secure a defensive stop, and Onyenso capitalized by hitting one of his two free throws, extending the Cats’ lead to 80-76 with 1:04 remaining. Kentucky managed to increase their advantage to 81-76 before Florida mounted a comeback, securing a three-point play to bring the score to 81-79 with just 30 seconds left on the clock.
Sheppard displayed nerves of steel, sinking a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining, widening Kentucky’s lead to 83-79. Florida responded with two free throws from Zyon Pullin, reducing the deficit to two points. With three seconds left, Sheppard sealed the deal by hitting two more free throws, securing a 85-81 lead. Florida managed to add one more basket with just one second remaining, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Kentucky’s late-game heroics.
Looking ahead, Kentucky will face off against Missouri in their SEC home opener at Rupp Arena on Tuesday. The highly anticipated matchup is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN.
