At The Half: Kentucky leads Tennessee by 20

Through one in Lexington, your University of Kentucky Wildcats lead the Tennessee Volunteers, 39-19, in the second running of the rivalry game this regular season. Kentucky is playing to sweep the Vols for the first time since the 2011-12 season and they are on the right track at the halfway point of the game.

Playing again with the starting five of Cason Wallace, Antonio Reeves, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin, and Oscar Tshiebwe as both Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick are still out, Kentucky took control of the game early with a corner three-pointer by Reeves for the game’s first points. From there the Wildcats jumped out to a 10-2 lead in front of a rocking Rupp Arena crowd and with a significant contribution from Livingston, who, in the first 10 minutes, scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field with a 3-pointer, plus four rebounds, an assist, and a block until Calipari gave him the game’s first breather. Adou Thiero was first off Kentucky’s bench.

Tennessee cut into the lead to get within five midway through the first half, only for the home team to push it back out to nine at 19-10, then up to 25-12, then to 39-19, where we are now at intermission. Five is as close as it ever got.

Leading the way are Wallace and Livingston with 20 of Kentucky’s 39 points. Tshiebwe has nine and five and dunked on someone’s head.

While the two teams go their separate ways to regroup and restrategize for the last 20 minutes, Kentucky will honor its 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98 teams with a ceremony at midcourt.

While they do, spend some time reading over the halftime box score and get ready for an important second-half homestand in Lexington.

Halftime Box Score: Kentucky 39, Tennessee 19