FINAL: Kentucky MBB opens GLOBL Jam with 81-73 win over Germany

It sure does feel good to be back, doesn’t it?

On Wednesday afternoon in Toronto, Canada at the 2023 GLOBL Jam Tournament, the Kentucky men’s basketball team used an impressive second-half performance to take down Team Germany by a final score of 81-73. Representing Team USA, the Wildcats put on a show for the Big Blue Nation in what was the first of four games for the program this week up north.

After taking a three-point lead into the halftime break, Kentucky elevated its game in the second half, leading by double-digits for the majority of the third and fourth quarters before Germany made one final push in the closing minutes to make the score look closer than it actually was.

As a team, Kentucky shot a combined 41 percent from the floor and 9-27 (33 percent) from beyond the arc. The Wildcats recorded 24 assists to 13 turnovers, a much better ratio than Germany’s 17 assists and 22 turnovers. UK turned those miscues from Germany into 27 points.

Fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves led the scoring for UK with a team-high 24 points on 8-16 shooting (3-7 3PT) while veteran forward Tre Mitchell contributed 20 points on 7-13 shooting (4-6 3PT), six rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore guard Adou Thiero looked like a brand new player, registering nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.

As for some of the freshmen, DJ Wagner chipped in 16 points and six assists, Rob Dillingham added six points and three rebounds, and Reed Sheppard went for six assists, three rebounds, and two steals, although he did not register a point. Justin Edwards scored just four points but still managed nine rebounds and four assists.

Kentucky was without its two primary big men — Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso — due to injury. Onyenso suffered his injury during a closed scrimmage on Tuesday.

Out of the gate, there were clearly some nerves from the side of the Americans Wildcats. A few shaky shots in the opening minutes resulted in a slow start, but that didn’t last long. Kentucky quickly put together an early 8-0 run as both sides were off to the races. Thiero immediately stood out as a clearly improved player from his freshman season, using his size and added muscle to bully his way into the paint.

Wagner helped get Kentucky into a groove, making all three of his shots in the opening quarter. After the opening 10 minutes, the score was knotted at 17-17. That’s when the German squad began to heat up from beyond the arc.

Germany would shoot 6-10 from deep in the second quarter, but Kentucky countered by getting to the rim and finding Reeves on offense. The fifth-year senior added 10 points in the second frame, including a pair of three-pointers. The Wildcats’ defense also stepped up, forcing Germany into several turnovers that UK turned into points on the other end.

Come halftime, Kentucky was clinging to a 39-36 lead. But the overwhelming talent level of the Wildcats would soon prove too much to handle. Out of the intermission, UK started to heat up. In particular, Mitchell found his rhythm from beyond the arc, canning two quick triples that sparked a run. Kentucky won the third period 25-16 as the game began to blow open in favor of the ‘Cats.

Kentucky didn’t slow down going into the fourth quarter, either. Halfway through the period, Reeves (20 points), Wagner (16), Mitchell (16), and Thiero (9) had more combined points than the entire German roster, 61-58. UK was generating a ton of points off turnovers and began to outpace the Germans up and down the floor. The open looks from deep that were once there for Germany were now nowhere to be found.

Overall, it was a solid first outing for the Wildcats, especially for a game against professional competition in mid-July with only so many practices under the team’s belt. We won’t have to wait much longer for game two either. Kentucky will take on Team Canada on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. EST, although it will be on tape delay until midnight on the CBS Sports Network.