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Seven Wildcats scored in double figures plus Boxscore and Other Arkansas Game Notes

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KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY
MARCH 2, 2024
ATTENDANCE: 20,322

Final Score: No. 16/15 Kentucky 111, 102

Team Records and Series Notes

  • Kentucky is 21-8 on the season, 11-5 in the Southeastern Conference.  This is ‘s first three-game win streak this season in conference play.
  • Arkansas is now 14-15 overall, 5-11 in league action.
  • Kentucky leads the series 36-14 and has won the last three against the Razorbacks.
    • UK leads 16-5 in games played in Lexington but Arkansas had won the previous two in Rupp Arena.
  • Next for Kentucky: Senior Night on Wednesday as the Wildcats play host to Vanderbilt. Game time is 9 p.m. and it will be televised on SEC Network.

Team Notes

  • Trailing 88-81 with 6:56 remaining, scored or assisted on 16 straight points as Kentucky outscored Arkansas 30-14 down the stretch to put away a 111-102 win.
    • Dillingham’s lob for a dunk with 4:45 to play put UK ahead 93-92 and the Wildcats never trailed again.
  • Kentucky scored 111 points, the Wildcats’ sixth century game of the season.
    • It is UK’s first back-to-back home games with at least 111 points since 1971.
    • Six 100-point games is the most since the 1995-96 team had nine such games.
    • UK entered the game third in the nation in scoring at 88.8 points per game.
  • Kentucky won despite allowing 102 points. It is the first time since Feb. 21, 1970, that UK gave up at least 102 points and won (121-105 at LSU).
    • It is the first time in UK history that the Wildcats won an SEC home game while giving up at least 102 points.
  • Seven Wildcats scored in double figures, first time since Feb. 19, 2005 in a home win over Mississippi State.
  • Kentucky shot 56.7% from the field (34 of 60). UK is 14-0 this season when making at least 50% from the field.
    • UK entered the game ninth in the nation in field-goal percentage at 49.5%.
  • Kentucky shot 45% from 3-point range, 9 of 20. The Wildcats entered the game leading the nation at 40.7%.
  • Kentucky made 34 of 42 foul shots, season highs in both categories. The Wildcats shot 81% on free throws, the eighth straight game at least 75% at the line.
  • Kentucky won the rebounding, 34-27. UK is 14-0 this season when winning or tying the board work.
  • Kentucky led by as many as 11 points. UK is 347-17 (95.3%) in the era when leading by at least 10 points at some point in the game.
  • After missing the previous four games because of a shoulder injury, returned to action. This was UK’s first complete game this season with all players available.
    • Until today, eight players have missed a total of 52 games because of injury, illness or other factors. Among those who play regularly, , and are the only ones who have been available every game.

Player Notes

  • Antonio Reeves had 22 points, his fifth straight 20-point game and 18th of the season.
    • Reeves is first Wildcat with five consecutive 20-point games since Jamal Murray had 12 in a row in February/March 2016.
    • He has scored in double figures in every game but one this season.
    • He also has hit at least one 3-pointer in every game but one this season.
    • He has 1,068 in his two seasons as a Wildcat – moving up to No. 53 on the all-time UK list and No. 4 among Wildcats who played only two seasons at UK.
  • With a career-high four 3-pointers, D.J. Wagner had 19 points …
    • His most points since a career-high 28 vs. Marshall on Nov. 24.
    • His first back-to-back double figure games since Jan. 9/13 against Missouri and Texas A&M.
  • Rob Dillingham had 15 points and tied for game honors in assists with five.
    • With UK trailing 88-81 with 6:56 to go, Dillingham scored or assisted on 16 straight points as UK regained the lead and never let it go.
    • 13 of his 15 points came in the final 6:31 of the game.
  • Aaron Bradshaw had 15 points, his seventh double-figure game of the season and most since his career high of 17 vs. Pennsylvania on Dec. 9.
    • He also made 6 of 8 at the foul line, career highs in both categories.
  • Reed Sheppard had 10 points and tied for game honors in assists with five.
    • It is only the third game of the season that Sheppard – the SEC leader in steals – did not have a theft.
  • Justin Edwards had 10 points, scoring eight of them down the stretch – the dunk at 4:42 that put UK ahead for good (93-92), a free throw (98-92), a jump shot (104-96) and then the 3-point dagger to make it 107-98 with 1:25 to go.
    • He also had three steals in the final stretch of the game.
    • It’s his 11th double-figure game of the season.
  • Zvonimir Ivisic had 12 points, his fourth double-figure game.
    • He led all players in rebounds with nine, also a season high for him.
  • After missing the previous four games, and six of the last seven because of injury, Tre Mitchell returned to action. He scored two points and had three rebounds.
  • Khalif Battle of Arkansas led all scorers with 34 points, including 17 of 18 at the free throw line.
    • He broke the Rupp Arena opponent record for free throws made (old record 16 by Dan Cross of Florida, Feb. 18, 1995).
    • He tied the Rupp Arena opponent record for free throws attempted (record of 18 also held by Ronnie Williams of Florida, Jan. 17, 1983).

Coach John Calipari

  • Calipari has an 853-261 (76.6%) all-time on-court record, including 408-121 (77.1%) at Kentucky.
  • Calipari is 336-70 (82.8%) against unranked opponents while at Kentucky.
  • Calipari is 404-131 (75.5%) in conference games during his career, including 196-65 (75.1%) in the SEC.
    • Calipari moved past C.M. Newton (Alabama, Vanderbilt) for sole possession of the fourth-most SEC regular-season wins in school history.
  • Calipari is 16-9 vs. Arkansas.

In the First Half

  • Kentucky started J. Wagner, Antonio Reeves, Justin Edwards, Adou Thiero and for the fifth straight game. UK is 4-1 with this lineup.
  • Rob Dillingham, Zvonimir Ivisic, Tre Mitchell and Reed Sheppard were UK’s first substitutions with 16:09 remaining.
  • Trailing 42-38, UK closed the half on a 15-6 run to take a 53-48 lead into intermission.
    • It is the sixth time this season UK has scored at least 50 in the first half.
    • Reeves led the Wildcats with 14 points and Aaron Bradshaw had 12.
  • UK is 16-3 this season when leading at halftime.

In the Second Half

  • Kentucky began the second half with Wagner, Reeves, Edwards, Thiero and Bradshaw.
  • Kentucky increased the lead to 60-50, but Arkansas replied with a 12-1 run to retake the lead, 62-61, at the 15:24 mark.
  • UK regained the lead and stretched it to six, 72-66, but Arkansas came back with an 18-3 spurt to lead 84-75 with 9:06 remaining.
  • Arkansas still led by seven, 88-81, with 6:56 to go.
  • From there, Rob Dillingham scored or assisted on 16 straight points as Kentucky outscored Arkansas 30-14 down the stretch to put away a 111-102 win.
    • Dillingham’s lob for a Justin Edwards dunk with 4:45 to play put UK ahead 93-92 and the Wildcats never trailed again.