Not the game we envisioned, not the game we would've preferred, but at this point a win is a win. After a tough in-conference road environment, Kentucky avoided the upset off of a buzzer-beating Reed Sheppard floater.
The final score in Starkville was 91-89 and Kentucky left the floor dancing with 20 wins on the season in twenty-eight attempts. We knew this game would be one that Kentucky would have to fight to come out of with the win, but I don't think many expected it to go all the way to the final seconds.
The Wildcats at one point were down by 13 points (52-39) with 18 minutes to play, allowing their starting five to come out of halftime and get the deficit even worse, the same way they did to start the game. But, behind a career-best night from Reed Sheppard he willed this team to the wire. He would finish with 32 points on 11/14 shooting, four made three-pointers, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in 35 minutes of play. We will remember this game for the rest of time and also as one of the core moments of his likely one season in college.
Reed was helped by Antonio Reeves (21 points) who found a way to score twenty-plus once again, with Adou Thiero (11 points) and DJ Wagner (10 points) both having double figures as well.
Kentucky shot 55% from the field and 33.3% from the three while also receiving 47 points off the bench. Their shooting allowed them to close out a game successfully and it earned them their largest lead of the game, taking place in the final minute at eight points ahead.
Here are the final stats from the game.
Kentucky avoids the court storming, avoids the upset, and is headed back to Lexington at 20-8 with another SEC win (10-5) as they get ready to host Arkansas on Saturday.