In a highly anticipated matchup between two SEC rivals, the Kentucky Wildcats traveled to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators on Wednesday night.
From the opening tip, it was clear that this would be a tightly contested game. Both teams came out firing, and the game was tied at 11-11 after the first few minutes of play. Kentucky then went on a run to take a 30-15 lead, but Florida responded with a run of its own, outscoring the Wildcats 22-6 to take a 37-36 lead into halftime.
The second half was back-and-forth, with neither team able to pull away. Kentucky would take a lead, but Florida would answer back. The Gators were able to stay close by knocking down timely shots from beyond the arc, finishing the game 10-of-25 from three-point range.
But in the end, it was Kentucky’s veterans who led the way. Oscar Tshiebwe, the reigning National Player of the Year, bounced back from a tough outing earlier this season against Florida to score 25 points on 12-of-13 shooting. Jacob Toppin added 19 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double against the Gators this season. Antonio Reeves chipped in with 16 points, while freshman Chris Livingston added 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
It was a hard-fought win for the Wildcats, who showed their resiliency in battling back from an early deficit. “We’re a tough team,” Toppin said after the game. “We know we can compete with anyone in the country, and we showed that tonight.”
Kentucky’s victory was particularly impressive given the way they shot the ball. The Wildcats finished the game 4-of-13 from three-point range, but were able to make up for it with their efficiency inside the arc. They finished the game shooting 53.2% from the field, and were able to get to the free-throw line 16 times, converting on 12 of those attempts.
Despite the loss, the Gators had several players step up and contribute. Colin Castleton led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Tyree Appleby added 15 points and six assists. Florida also got solid contributions from Brandon McKissic (13 points) and Myreon Jones (12 points), but it wasn’t enough to overcome Kentucky’s balanced attack.
“I thought we played well in stretches,” Florida head coach Mike White said after the game. “We just couldn’t string together enough stops to get over the hump.”
The win moves Kentucky into a tie for second place in the SEC standings with Tennessee, and puts them in good position to make a run at the conference title. The Wildcats will need to continue playing at a high level, as they have several tough games remaining on their schedule, including matchups against Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari was pleased with his team’s effort, but stressed the importance of continuing to improve. “We’re still not where we need to be,” he said. “We’ve got to keep getting better and keep working hard every day.”
The Wildcats will look to keep their momentum going on Saturday when they host the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena. The game is set for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS.
