Reeves, Tshiebwe won Kentucky over No. 5 Tennessee 63–56

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Antonio Reeves scored 18 points and Oscar Tshiebwe had 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead Kentucky to a 63-56 victory over No. Saturday, 5 Tennessee

Kentucky led the game 58-50 at 3:28. Santiago Vescovi’s two free throws and Uros Plsic’s two buckets closed the gap to just one minute.

Tennessee was given a chance to tie or lead by a Wildcat turnover. Zakai Zeigler, Plavsic and others missed the mark.

The Wildcats (11-6; 2-3 Southeastern Conference); displayed a physical presence, and overtook the Volunteers (14-3; 4-1) on the boards. 43-23

C.J. Fredrick scored 10 out of 13 points in the opening half, as the Wildcats led 7 to 7.

Plavsic, a Tennessee big-man, scored 19 points and was the only Vol that could match Kentucky in physicality. Vescovi scored 13.

After a disappointing loss to South Carolina earlier this week, Kentucky’s efforts were rewarded.

C.J. Fredrick scored eight straight points for Kentucky and had 10 by the time of the break. Vescovi (left shoulder injury in shooting collision) had seven points in the first period as Kentucky led 33-26.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Rick Barnes led his college basketball teams into the AP Top 25 for a total of 299 consecutive weeks during his 36-year tenure as a coach. This includes 131 weeks in Top 10.

BIG PICTURE

Kentucky: The Wildcats are dealing with injury issues and frustrations in addition to six losses so early in the season. G Cason Wallace, back, and F Jacob Toppin, shoulder have been out. Both were against the Vols. … Big man Oscar Tshiebwe leads the SEC with 10 double-doubles this season. … Sahvir Wheeler leads the SEC with 6.3 assists a game. He is currently at the top for the third year straight. … John Calipari coached his 36th game against Tennessee. His team has never been beaten by a Vols coach in so many games.

Tennessee: Senior G Santiago Vecovi has been hot in recent weeks. He entered the Kentucky game with an average of 16.5 points in his last five games. He shot 60% from the 3-point line and 57% from the foul line. … Zakai Ziegler, who has gotten used to his role as a point guard coming off the bench, had 27 assists in his last three games heading into Saturday. … Chris Lofton (2004-08), the SEC’s all-time leader in 3-point baskets made (431), had his No. 5 were hoisted into Thompson-Boling Arena’s rafters.

UP NEXT

Kentucky: Georgia hosts on Tuesday

Tennessee: Mississippi State Visits Tennessee on Tuesday

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