Balanced attack helps No. 22 Kentucky beat Mississippi

Field Level Media|published: Tue 13th February, 23:33 2024

Kentucky s Rob Dillingham makes the bucket against Ole Miss Tuesday night in Rupp Arena. Feb. 13, 2024 credits: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Antonio Reeves scored 15 points to lead four Kentucky scorers in double figures and the No. 22 Wildcats defeated visiting Ole Miss 75-63 on Tuesday night.

Reed Sheppard added 13 points, Justin Edwards scored 12 and Rob Dillingham had 10 for the Wildcats (17-7, 7-4 SEC), who bounced back from an 89-85 non-conference home loss against Gonzaga last Saturday.

Kentucky took the lead for good with more than five minutes left in the first half, held a 14-point advantage at halftime and maintained a safe edge throughout the second half.

Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield scored 16 each and Allen Flanigan added 10 to lead the Rebels (18-6, 5-6), who fell to 1-5 in conference road games this season.

Brakefield scored three points as Ole Miss started the second half with an 8-2 run that trimmed Kentucky's lead to 45-37.

Sheppard answered with a jumper, but the Rebels scored the next four points to get within six. But the threat was short-lived.

Dillingham made a 3-pointer and the Wildcats rebuilt the lead to 57-43 on a 3-pointer by Sheppard with 12:02 left.

Flanigan answered with a jumper before Reeves made a layup and Dillingham added another 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 17 with 9:41 left.

Brakefield scored five points and Austin Nunez added a 3-pointer as Ole Miss crept within 68-56 with 6:15 remaining.

Edwards made a free throw and Ugonna Onyenso finished a dunk as Kentucky extended the lead to 15 points with 3:44 remaining.

The score was tied at nine before Murrell made consecutive 3-pointers.

The Wildcats got within one point twice before Murrell's jumper gave the Rebels a 23-18 lead with 7:18 remaining in the first half.

Sheppard's 3-pointer started a 10-0 run that included five points by Reeves and gave the Wildcats a 28-23 lead.

Jamarion Sharp made two free throws to stop the run and Flanigan's jumper ended a 3 1/2-minute field-goal drought for Ole Miss, trimming the lead to 30-27.

Kentucky scored the next eight points and took a 43-29 halftime lead as the Rebels made just one field goal during the final seven minutes of the half.

—Field Level Media