Reeves leads the way with 24 points and No. 6 Kentucky beats Arkansas 63-57
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Antonio Reeves scored a game-high 24 points and No. 6 Kentucky overcame a sub-par shooting performance to put away Arkansas 63-57 on Saturday.
The Wildcats (15-4, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) took their first lead with 12:54 remaining in the second half when Reed Sheppard stole the ball and punctuated a 7-0 run with a dunk.
About five minutes later, Reeves picked up a steal-and-slam to put the Wildcats ahead for good, 44-43.
“We would not fight back (Wednesday in a 79-62 loss against South Carolina). We let them do whatever they wanted to do to us. Today we fought back,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.
Kentucky missed 10 straight field goals during a stretch in the middle of the first half, allowing Arkansas to take a double-digit lead. The Razorbacks (10-10, 1-6) then went cold as both teams shot 29% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Kentucky shot 36.5% for the game.
Sheppard and Reeves each scored 14 points in the second half, with all of Sheppard’s coming after halftime. They combined for all seven of Kentucky’s points during the game-changing run.
“Reed and I, I told him, you come up to me in the game and you say ‘Stick with me, coach, just stick with me,'" Calipari said. “I was happy for Reed. He did some good stuff today. That’s who he is.”
Turnovers were Arkansas’ downfall. The Razorbacks, who finished with 13 giveaways, had a chance to cut the game to one possession with 2:20 left, but D.J. Wagner picked off a pass and went the other way for a layup to give Kentucky its largest lead of the game, six points. Sheppard later hit a 3-pointer.
Tre Mitchell scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Makhi Mitchell led Arkansas with 12 points, while Tramon Mark and Khalif Battle each scored 11.
Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, whose 13.9 points per game are second on the team, did not play for Kentucky because of illness.
DEVO GONE
Arkansas announced 10 minutes before tip that starting guard Devo Davis had “stepped away from the team.” No reason was given and no timetable was provided for his potential return. Davis has been a regular starter in four seasons with the Razorbacks and averaged 6.3 points per game this year.
BIG PICTURE
Kentucky is in a bit of a funk. The Wildcats lost earlier in the week by 17 points against South Carolina and even though they beat Arkansas on Saturday, not all is glimmering for John Calipari’s bunch.
Arkansas needs a push in the second half of SEC play just to make the NIT. The Razorbacks’ run of three straight Sweet 16s appears cooked before February, barring a miracle.
UP NEXT
Kentucky: Hosts Florida on Wednesday night.
Arkansas: Plays at Missouri on Wednesday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | Aaron Bradshaw vs. Jalen Graham (Adou Thiero gains possession) | ||
| 19:36 |  | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | ||
| 19:34 | | Tramon Mark defensive rebound | ||
| 19:16 | | Khalif Battle misses two point jump shot | ||
| 19:14 | | Razorbacks offensive rebound | ||
| 18:57 | | Jalen Graham turnover (bad pass) (Antonio Reeves steals) | ||
| 18:46 | | Jalen Graham blocks Adou Thiero's two point layup | ||
| 18:45 | | Aaron Bradshaw offensive rebound | ||
| 18:45 | | Chandler Lawson personal foul (Aaron Bradshaw draws the foul) | ||
| 18:40 | | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | ||
| 18:38 | | Chandler Lawson defensive rebound | ||
| 18:10 | | Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot | ||
| 18:08 | | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 17:53 | | Adou Thiero misses two point layup | ||
| 17:51 | | Khalif Battle defensive rebound | ||
| 17:46 | | +3 | El Ellis makes three point jump shot (Khalif Battle assists) | 0-3 |
| 17:32 | | Antonio Reeves turnover (lost ball) (Tramon Mark steals) | ||
| 17:19 | | Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 17:17 | | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | ||
| 17:16 | | Jalen Graham personal foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | ||
| 16:47 | | Reed Sheppard misses two point layup | ||
| 16:45 | | Khalif Battle defensive rebound | ||
| 16:31 | | El Ellis misses two point layup | ||
| 16:29 | | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 16:22 | | +3 | Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 3-3 |
| 16:02 | | Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot | ||
| 16:00 | | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 15:56 | | Khalif Battle blocks Reed Sheppard's two point layup | ||
| 15:54 | | Chandler Lawson defensive rebound | ||
| 15:44 | | +2 | Tramon Mark makes two point layup (Chandler Lawson assists) | 3-5 |
| 15:36 | | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | ||
| 15:34 | | El Ellis defensive rebound | ||
| 15:12 | | +2 | Jalen Graham makes two point hook shot | 3-7 |
| 15:01 | | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | ||
| 14:59 | | Chandler Lawson defensive rebound | ||
| 14:40 | | Official timeout | ||
| 14:40 | | TV timeout | ||
| 14:34 | | El Ellis turnover (bad pass) | ||
| 14:25 | | Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 14:23 | | Tramon Mark defensive rebound | ||
| 14:09 | | +2 | Jalen Graham makes two point hook shot | 3-9 |
| 13:45 | | Reed Sheppard misses two point jump shot | ||
| 13:43 | | Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 13:30 | | Justin Edwards personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul) | ||
| 13:16 | | El Ellis turnover (lost ball) (Reed Sheppard steals) | ||
| 13:09 | | Jalen Graham shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | ||
| 13:09 | | Antonio Reeves misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 13:09 | | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-9 |
| 12:41 | | Chandler Lawson turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals) | ||
| 12:39 | | Justin Edwards turnover (traveling) | ||
| 12:24 | | Reed Sheppard blocks El Ellis's two point jump shot | ||
| 12:22 | | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | ||
| 12:07 | | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 12:05 | | Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 11:51 | | Tramon Mark turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mitchell steals) | ||
| 11:31 | | Makhi Mitchell blocks D.J. Wagner's two point layup | ||
| 11:29 | | Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 11:14 | | D.J. Wagner personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul) | ||
| 11:14 | | TV timeout | ||
| 11:10 | | Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:08 | | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 10:43 | | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:32 | | Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 10:25 | | +3 | Chandler Lawson makes three point jump shot (Tramon Mark assists) | 4-12 |
| 10:08 | | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:06 | | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | ||
| 9:47 | | Ugonna Onyenso misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:45 | | Chandler Lawson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:44 | | Adou Thiero personal foul | ||
| 9:34 | | +2 | Layden Blocker makes two point jump shot | 4-14 |
| 9:25 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot | 6-14 |
| 9:18 | | Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:16 | | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:04 | | Antonio Reeves misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:02 | | Makhi Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 8:54 | | +2 | Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot | 6-16 |
| 8:47 | | Antonio Reeves misses two point layup | ||
| 8:45 | | Tramon Mark defensive rebound | ||
| 8:41 | | Adou Thiero personal foul | ||
| 8:19 | | Layden Blocker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:17 | | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | ||
| 8:08 | | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 8-16 |
| 7:48 | | Chandler Lawson misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:46 | | Makhi Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 7:40 | | +2 | Makhi Mitchell makes two point layup | 8-18 |
| 7:22 | | Reed Sheppard misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:20 | | El Ellis defensive rebound | ||
| 7:09 | | Joseph Pinion misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:07 | | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 7:01 | | Layden Blocker personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | ||
| 7:01 | | TV timeout | ||
| 6:59 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 10-18 |
| 6:44 | | El Ellis misses two point layup | ||
| 6:42 | | Aaron Bradshaw defensive rebound | ||
| 6:27 | | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 12-18 |
| 6:04 | | Aaron Bradshaw shooting foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 6:04 | | +1 | Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-19 |
| 6:04 | | +1 | Makhi Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-20 |
| 5:51 | | Chandler Lawson blocks Aaron Bradshaw's two point dunk | ||
| 5:49 | | Khalif Battle defensive rebound | ||
| 5:31 | | Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:29 | | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | Antonio Reeves misses two point layup | ||
| 5:23 | | Tramon Mark defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | Aaron Bradshaw personal foul | ||
| 5:04 | | Tramon Mark misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:02 | | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 4:53 | | Chandler Lawson shooting foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 4:53 | | Tre Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:53 | | +1 | Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-20 |
| 4:36 | | Tramon Mark misses two point layup | ||
| 4:36 | | Khalif Battle offensive rebound | ||
| 4:36 | | Reed Sheppard personal foul (Makhi Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 4:36 | | Makhi Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 4:36 | | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 4:29 | | Tramon Mark personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | ||
| 4:21 | | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point dunk (Tre Mitchell assists) | 15-20 |
| 3:57 | | Makhi Mitchell misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:55 | | Tramon Mark offensive rebound | ||
| 3:54 | | Ugonna Onyenso personal foul (Tramon Mark draws the foul) | ||
| 3:54 | | TV timeout | ||
| 3:54 | | +1 | Tramon Mark makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-21 |
| 3:54 | | Tramon Mark misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 3:54 | | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 3:41 | | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 18-21 |
| 3:22 | | Makhi Mitchell misses two point layup | ||
| 3:20 | | Wildcats defensive rebound | ||
| 3:04 | | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 20-21 |
| 2:40 | | +2 | Tramon Mark makes two point jump shot | 20-23 |
| 2:28 | | Antonio Reeves turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 2:17 | | Tre Mitchell blocks El Ellis's two point jump shot | ||
| 2:16 | | Razorbacks offensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | Jeremiah Davenport misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:09 | | Antonio Reeves defensive rebound | ||
| 1:47 | | Tre Mitchell misses two point jump shot | ||
| 1:45 | | Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound | ||
| 1:39 | | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point layup | 22-23 |
| 1:27 | | Tramon Mark misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:25 | | Wildcats defensive rebound | ||
| 1:10 | | Tre Mitchell flagrant 1 (Jeremiah Davenport draws the foul) | ||
| 1:10 | | Tre Mitchell turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:10 | | Official timeout | ||
| 1:10 | | +1 | Jeremiah Davenport makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 22-24 |
| 1:10 | | Jeremiah Davenport misses flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:46 | | Ugonna Onyenso blocks El Ellis's two point layup | ||
| 0:44 | | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | ||
| 0:44 | | Wildcats 30 second timeout | ||
| 0:16 | | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:12 | | Tramon Mark defensive rebound | ||
| 0:09 | | Reed Sheppard shooting foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul) | ||
| 0:09 | | +1 | Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-25 |
| 0:09 | | +1 | Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-26 |
| 0:02 | | Layden Blocker personal foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | ||
| 0:02 | | +1 | D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-26 |
| 0:02 | | +1 | D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-26 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |