Field Level Media
Feb 6, 2024
Antonio Reeves scored 24 points and No. 17 Kentucky never trailed while rolling to a 109-77 victory over Vanderbilt on Tuesday night in Southeastern Conference play in Nashville.
Standout reserve Rob Dillingham added 20 points and nine assists as the Wildcats (16-6, 6-4 SEC) bounced back from a 103-92 loss to No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday and won for just the second time in the past five games. Reeves was 6 of 9 from 3-point range and Dillingham made 4 of 5 as Kentucky was a stellar 15 of 26 from behind the arc.
Justin Edwards scored 17 points and Jordan Burks had 13 on 6-of-6 shooting for the Wildcats. Aaron Bradshaw had 12 points and seven rebounds and Zvonimir Ivisic added 11 points and seven boards to help Kentucky top 100 points for the fourth time this season.
Evan Taylor made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points for Vanderbilt (6-16, 1-8), which lost for the eighth time in nine games. Ezra Manjon added 14 points and nine assists and Tyrin Lawrence scored 10 points.
The Wildcats cruised despite playing without Tre Mitchell (back) and D.J. Wagner (ankle). Wagner has missed the past three games.
The Wildcats shot 55.4 percent. Reed Sheppard had five of Kentucky's 10 steals during a game it led by as many as 33 points.
The Commodores made 35.5 percent of their shots and were 11 of 34 from behind the arc.
The Wildcats had a commanding 50-28 rebounding advantage.
Kentucky was a sizzling 10 of 14 (71.4 percent) from 3-point range in the first half while building a 54-38 lead. Reeves was 4 of 5 from distance while scoring 16 points in the half and Dillingham made all three of his attempts while putting up 13.
Taylor had 10 first-half points for the Commodores.
Shortly after entering the game, Dillingham made three treys in a span of 1:52 to give the Wildcats a 20-10 lead with 13:28 left in the half.
Reeves made two 3-pointers in 53 seconds during an 8-0 burst as Kentucky's lead reached 42-22 with 6:47 remaining in the half.
Vanderbilt was within 61-46 after two free throws by Lawrence with 16:58 left in the game.
Kentucky responded with a 9-2 run, Reeves sinking a trey to make it 70-48 with 14:45 remaining.
The Wildcats reached the century mark on Burks' dunk with 3:56 left. That made it 100-72.
--Field Level Media