LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Reed Sheppard scored 21 points, like 13 during a second fifty percent in which Kentucky shot 67%, and Antonio Reeves extra 18 to propel 12th-rated Wildcats to a 95-73 blowout of No. 8 Miami on Tuesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Sheppard arrived off the bench, drained a 3 for his initial basket and completed 5 of 9 from very long vary and 8 of 13 total. The freshman also experienced five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 30 minutes, filling a void following starting up stage guard D.J. Wagner remaining late in the 1st fifty percent with an ankle harm and did not return.
“I just go out and check out and do what I require to do, whatsoever I can to help my crew gain and make the proper participate in,” Sheppard said. “With these dudes all around me, it is definitely, actually easy performing that. We were being hitting shots still left and suitable and everybody was transferring the ball, passing and obtaining entertaining.”
Reeves was 7 of 12 from the field. Tre Mitchell had 14 factors and 7 helps, Rob Dillingham scored 14 details and Justin Edwards experienced 11 details for Kentucky (6-1).
Norchad Omier scored 20 points and Wooga Poplar experienced 19 for the Hurricanes (5-1), who shot 44.1% from the discipline but were being no match for Kentucky’s almost flawless offensive performance.
“I mentioned the initial group to 80 would get, but we didn’t rating,” Miami coach Jim Larrañaga said. “We played completely out of character on offense and that impacted our protection, which, sadly, is a weak point of ours.”
The Wildcats manufactured their last 3 pictures to direct 42-37 at halftime ahead of sinking their initially six of the 2nd half and 10 of 11 general for a 67-43 edge with 14:15 remaining. Kentucky finished up changing 20 of 30 after halftime and 37 of 62 all round (59.7%) to dominate a matchup among two of the country’s optimum-scoring groups.
Kentucky led by as significantly as 29 details and finished 9 of 21 (42.9%) from 3-issue array.
UNSELFISH Participate in
Kentucky had 26 helps, the fourth consecutive game it has dished out 24 or additional. The Wildcats entered the match tied for seventh with 20 assists for every contest, but posted this total in opposition to by much their strongest opponent due to the fact shedding to then-No. 1 Kansas. Kentucky had 14 assists in that video game.
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Miami entered the game ranked 12th in scoring at 89 factors for every sport and for a when seemed intent on setting the speed. The Hurricanes constructed a 29-23 guide with an 18-2 operate, but it didn’t past.
Kentucky picked up in which it still left off right after scoring 118 points versus Marshall, a John Calipari-period file. The Wildcats outscored Miami 38-23 in the paint and 23-7 on the quickly crack, hitting a several transition 3s in the course of action. They have been outrebounded again (35-29), but scored 16 points off 15 turnovers when committing just 8.
“Defensively, we had been declaring make the 3 challenging, make them consider tricky 2s,” Calipari reported. “They can conquer you with 3s. And they also defeat you with the turnover due to the fact they unbelievably complete at the rim. And we just didn’t flip it about that substantially.”
UP Future
Miami hosts Notre Dame on Saturday in its Atlantic Coastline Convention opener.
Kentucky hosts UNC Wilmington on Saturday.
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