In a thrilling game at Bud Walton Arena, No. 6 Kentucky emerged victorious over Arkansas with a final score of 63-57. Leading the charge for the Wildcats was Antonio Reeves, who showcased his prowess on the court by scoring an impressive 24 points. Reeves has developed a liking for playing at Bud Walton Arena, as he notched 37 points in the same building during last season’s matchup between the Cats and the Hogs.
Reeves had a slow start to the game, only making one of his first five shots. However, he quickly rebounded and went on to convert nine of his 20 attempts from the floor, including four successful three-pointers. This performance marked the tenth time this season that Reeves has scored at least 20 points.
Kentucky also received notable contributions from freshman Reed Sheppard, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Sheppard, a native of London, Kentucky, displayed his versatility by recording five assists, four rebounds, four steals, and a blocked shot. Tre Mitchell also had a significant impact on the game, securing a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
One of the key differences in the game came from Kentucky’s ability to capitalize on Arkansas’ turnovers. The Wildcats managed to score 12 points off of the Razorbacks’ 13 turnovers, while Arkansas could only muster five points off of UK’s nine turnovers.
Kentucky struggled at the start of the game, missing its first five shots. However, Arkansas only managed to take a 3-0 lead early on. The Cats eventually found their footing, with Mitchell sinking a three-pointer to tie the game. Although Arkansas went on to score the next six points, Reeves’ free throw brought the score to 9-4 with 13:09 remaining in the first half.
The Cats continued to struggle and made only one of their first 17 shots. The Hogs took advantage of this, building a 14-4 lead. It wasn’t until Reeves converted a shot that Kentucky managed to cut the deficit to 14-6. The Wildcats endured a tough shooting stretch, going 3-of-21 from the floor before consecutive baskets from Reeves and D.J. Wagner narrowed the gap to 18-12 with 6:27 left in the half.
Kentucky fought back, embarking on an 8-1 run that brought them within one point of Arkansas, at 21-20. Despite the Razorbacks responding with a basket of their own, a tip-in from Ugonna Onyenso brought the Cats within one once again. However, Arkansas held a 26-24 lead at halftime, with Kentucky only scoring 24 points, their lowest total for a half this season.
In the second half, Arkansas began with a quick two points, but Reeves matched their basket and converted a free throw to reduce the deficit to one at 28-27. Kentucky managed to tie the game at 28-28 after an Adou Thiero free throw with 17:29 remaining. The game remained tightly contested, with both teams trading blows. The Razorbacks hit a three-pointer through Khalif Battle, but Sheppard promptly responded with a three of his own to level the score at 31-31.
Arkansas then embarked on a 6-0 run, taking a 37-31 lead. However, the Cats rallied once again, with Reeves sinking a three-pointer and Sheppard scoring a layup to cut the deficit to one at 37-36. Sheppard then stole a pass, leading to a two-hand slam that allowed Kentucky to take their first lead of the game at 38-37, with 12:54 left on the clock.
Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived, as Arkansas quickly responded to regain a one-point advantage at 39-38. The lead continued to change hands over the next few possessions, and it was Sheppard’s layup that finally gave the Cats a 42-41 lead. Kentucky extended their lead to 44-41 with a steal and a dunk from Reeves, with 8:32 remaining.
Arkansas fought back once again, cutting the UK lead to 44-43. But Mitchell dashed their hopes by sinking a crucial three-pointer, putting the Cats up 47-43 with 7:24 left to play. The Razorbacks hit a three-pointer through Battle to narrow the deficit, but Reeves promptly responded with a three-pointer of his own to give the Wildcats a 50-46 advantage with 5:22 on the clock.
After a pair of Arkansas free throws, Mitchell hit a three-pointer from the left corner, further extending Kentucky’s lead to 53-48. Although Arkansas managed to get within one point, Reeves’ three-pointer pushed the Cats ahead 56-52 with 2:40 remaining. Sheppard and Wagner then combined for a steal and layup, propelling Kentucky to a comfortable nine-point lead at 61-52 with 1:27 left to play. The Wildcats held on for the win from there.
Looking ahead, Kentucky will return to action on Wednesday night when they face Florida at Rupp Arena, with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. This highly anticipated matchup can be watched live on ESPN.
