College basketball exhibition final: Kentucky 99, Kentucky State 53
The Kentucky men’s basketball team will play its final exhibition game of the 2023-24 season when the Kentucky State Thorobreds visit Rupp Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
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Final: Kentucky 99, Kentucky State 53
▪ Kentucky goes 6-0 in exhibition games in North America, rolling to a 99-53 win over overmatched Kentucky State. Antonio Reeves led UK with 20 points. Justin Edwards added 17. Tre Mitchell had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
▪ With 2:45 left, Calipari emptied his bench, bringing in Grant Darbyshire, Walker Horn, Kareem Watkins and Brennan Canada.
▪ There’s 3:37 left and Kentucky leads 95-43. Antonio Reeves leads the way with 20 points. He’s made four of his six three-point attempts. UK has a 41-28 advantage on the boards and have committed just three turnovers all night. K-State has turned it over 12 times.
▪ It’s currently Kentucky 84, Kentucky State 38 with 7:37 left. Cats have made 12 of 20 shots this half for 60 percent. They are 6 of 13 from three for 46.2 percent. Tre Mitchell has nine rebounds, Justin Edwards eight. UK has 23 assists on 32 made baskets. Kentucky State is shooting 28.3 percent from the floor.
▪ Kentucky leads Kentucky State 77-28 with 11:39 left. Tre Mitchell and Justin Edwards each have 15 points. At this point, I appreciate everyone who is still refreshing their browser.
▪ Kentucky rolling on, up 68-26 with 14:06 left in the game. The Cats opened the second half with an 18-4 run. Antonio Reeves nailed back-to-back three-pointers at the 18:21 and 17:46 marks. Tre Mitchell hit a three from the top of the key at the 16:43 mark. He followed with with another three at 15:41. And another triple at 14:51. Cats are 8 of 17 from beyond the arc for the game.
Halftime: Kentucky 50, Kentucky State 20
▪ Kentucky 50, Kentucky State 20 at the half. Cats shot 55.6% the first half. K-State shot 24.1 %. D.J. Wagner led UK with 12 points. Justin Edwards had 10.
▪ Kentucky rolling 46-16 with 3:15 left in first half. Not sure you can take much from this game, given the competition. Cats are shooting 61.3 percent. D.J. Wagner has 12 points. He’s made 5 of 6 shots, including 2 of his 3 three-point tries. Kentucky has 13 assists on 19 made baskets.
▪ Kentucky leads Kentucky State 31-14 with 7:58 left in first half. UK went on a 13-0 run for a 25-9 lead. Kentucky State is 5 of 20 from the floor, but 3 of 8 from long range. The Cats have still not turned the ball over.
▪ Kentucky up 23-9 with 11:27 left in the first half. Edwards leads way with 10 points and four rebounds. Cats have hit 11 of 17 shots for 64.7 percent. UK is 1 of 3 from 3-point range. Kentucky has not turned it over, while KSU has three turnovers.
▪ Kentucky leads Kentucky State 12-6 at the 15:49 TV time. Justin Edwards off to a hot start. He has 10 points. UK has made six of its eight shots
▪ Zvonimir Ivisic is not at Rupp because of illness, according to UK.
▪ Kentucky starters are D.J. Wagner, Antonio Reeves, Justin Edwards, Adou Thiero and Tre Mitchell.
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