In a game against Missouri, Kentucky’s freshman Rob Dillingham made quite an impact despite not playing many minutes. Dillingham scored a season-high 23 points in just 19 minutes of action as the sixth-ranked Wildcats secured a 90-77 victory at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky’s overall performance was impressive, with Tre Mitchell contributing a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. D.J. Wagner added 16 points, Antonio Reeves scored 14, and Aaron Bradshaw had 10 points for the team.
The game began with both teams displaying exceptional shooting accuracy, as they each made four of their first five field goal attempts. However, Kentucky quickly took control by making six of their first seven shots and securing an early 14-12 lead. The Cats maintained their dominance, extending their advantage to 35-21 after Dillingham’s five consecutive points.
Missouri fought back, scoring seven unanswered points which forced a timeout from the Kentucky bench. This ignited a 10-0 run by the Tigers, bringing them within just four points of the lead. Nevertheless, a basket from Bradshaw halted their momentum. Kentucky managed to maintain a lead of up to seven points on three different occasions before settling for a 47-42 halftime lead. Wagner and Dillingham led the Cats in the first half with 11 points each, and remarkably, Dillingham achieved this in just four minutes of play.
The second half began with both teams struggling to find their rhythm, as they both missed their first three shots from the field. After Missouri made a pair of free throws, Kentucky responded with a layup from Justin Edwards to get on the scoreboard. Throughout the second half, Kentucky managed to extend their lead to as many as 15 points before ultimately securing a 13-point victory.
Looking ahead, the Wildcats will be facing off against Texas A&M in College Station on Saturday. The highly anticipated game is set to tip off at 2 p.m. ET and can be watched on ESPN.
