In a thrilling matchup at Rupp Arena on Wednesday night, Antonio Reeves once again proved why he is the go-to scorer for the Kentucky Wildcats. Reeves led his team to a 90-77 victory over Mississippi State with a game-high 27 points, showcasing his prowess as a top scorer in the nation.
Reeves has consistently impressed throughout the season, scoring in double figures in 15 out of 16 games. This game marked the eighth time he has scored at least 20 points, and his second consecutive game with such a performance.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari praised his team’s effort, recognizing the challenge of every game in the SEC. “That was a good team that we beat today… Every game in this league is like a rock fight. Kids were ready today.”
The Wildcats started the game on a strong note after initially trailing 5-2. They went on a 13-0 run, with Reed Sheppard providing the spark off the bench, distributing three assists in just one minute of play. Kentucky continued to build their lead, with Rob Dillingham contributing 16 points, along with four rebounds and four assists.
Mississippi State fought back with consecutive three-pointers from Shawn Jones Jr., cutting Kentucky’s lead to 15-11. However, the Wildcats quickly responded with a 12-5 run, led by Dillingham’s eight points, to take a commanding 27-16 lead.
Kentucky extended their lead further in the first half, going on a 13-2 run, including a string of nine unanswered points. At halftime, they held a comfortable 47-29 lead, with Reeves leading all scorers with 16 points.
Mississippi State showed resilience at the start of the second half, mounting a 14-2 run to cut Kentucky’s lead to 49-43 in less than three minutes. However, the Wildcats quickly regained control with a 9-1 run to re-establish a double-digit advantage of 58-44.
From that point on, Kentucky maintained their double-digit lead, even expanding it to 18 points in the second half. Ultimately, they secured a 13-point victory, proving their dominance on the court.
Looking ahead, the Wildcats will face Georgia at Rupp Arena on Saturday. With their impressive performance against Mississippi State, Kentucky will be eager to continue their winning streak and solidify their position in the SEC.
