Kentucky Wildcats Win a Hard-fought Game Against Texas A&M-Commerce
In an exciting Friday night game, the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats faced a tough challenge from Texas A&M-Commerce. Unlike their dominant win over New Mexico State earlier in the week, the Cats had to overcome a slow start and rally back for a hard-fought victory.
The Lions came out firing on all cylinders, hitting seven of their first 10 shots, including five three-pointers. This impressive start gave Texas A&M-Commerce a commanding 19-6 lead less than seven minutes into the game. The Wildcats struggled to contain their opponents and find a rhythm.
However, Kentucky showed their resilience and fought back with an 11-1 run to take the lead, 25-24, with just under eight minutes left in the first half. They carried this momentum into halftime, leading 38-30.
Coach John Calipari saw the early adversity as a positive learning experience for his team. He believed that falling behind in this game could ultimately benefit them in the long run. Calipari said, “Loved it…They will come out and make threes. And that’s why, in huddles, I was saying we needed to string some plays together.”
The Wildcats struggled defensively, allowing the Lions to beat them off the dribble. Calipari acknowledged this issue, remarking, “The problem we had was we were getting beat on the dribble…We had guys who are supposed to be able to play the ball, and they got by us.”
Kentucky had five players score in double figures, showcasing their offensive depth. Antonio Reeves led the team with 21 points, while Tre Mitchell contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Justin Edwards added 16 points and seven rebounds. Freshmen guards Rob Dillingham and D.J. Wagner had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Calipari even commended Reed Sheppard, who struggled offensively but had a crucial impact on the game, saying, “He’s in the game, you just play better. That’s why he’s got to be on the floor.”
The Wildcats also impressed with their ball control, committing only three turnovers throughout the game. Calipari expressed his admiration, stating, “How do you finish with just three turnovers? That’s ridiculous.”
Kentucky faced further challenges as several key players, including Aaron Bradshaw, Zvonimir Ivisic, Ugonna Onyenso, and Adou Thiero, were unavailable for the game due to various reasons.
The Wildcats now turn their attention to a highly anticipated matchup against top-ranked Kansas in the Champions Classic on Tuesday night. This thrilling contest will take place in Chicago and will be broadcasted on ESPN. Tipoff is set for approximately 9:30 p.m. ET.
