FINAL: Kentucky moves to 3-0 at GLOBL Jam with 104-92 win over Team Africa

It’s on to the gold medal game for Kentucky men’s basketball.

On Saturday afternoon in Toronto, Canada, the Wildcats moved to 3-0 at the GLOBL Jam Tournament after taking down Team Africa (BAL Select) by a final score of 104-92. It was the third win in four days for Kentucky, which will now face either Canada or Germany in the championship game on Sunday night.

Kentucky started off extremely hot against Africa, leading by 18 at the halftime break and at one point by as many as 20. BAL Select showed plenty of fight in the second half to make it tight down the stretch, but the outcome was never truly in doubt. The Wildcats shot a combined 50 percent from the floor and 40 percent from beyond the arc (14-35), registering 26 assists on 39 made field goals.

Leading the way for UK was fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves, who poured in 27 points on an 8-11 shooting clip from long range. He was aided by 18 points a piece from freshmen Reed Sheppard and DJ Wagner. Sheppard added eight assists to his stat line while Wagner contributed seven rebounds and five assists.

Fellow freshman Justin Edwards went for 15 points (5-11 FG) with five rebounds and three steals while West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Sophomore Adou Thiero rounded things out with seven points, six rebounds, and three steals.

Kentucky came out looking like the clear favorite — just like they have all week — jumping out to a 10-2 lead at the first timeout. Edwards picked up right where he left off in the second half against Team Canada, pouring in nine early points including a corner three-pointer that got the scoring started for the ‘Cats.

Sheppard and Reeves would check in halfway through the period and continued the offensive onslaught. Both of them knocked down triples as the Kentucky lead grew to double-figures. Thiero was especially impressive with his aggressiveness on both ends, adding six points and three steals. Kentucky led 28-17 after the first period with six ‘Cats scoring in the opening 10 minutes.

The second quarter was much of the same. Africa would quickly cut the lead down to single digits, but it was short-lived. Reeves began to heat up, canning four three-pointers in the frame to put him at 18 points by the halftime break. Although foul trouble would creep into the Kentucky backcourt (Africa attempted 21 first-half free throws), the Wildcats were having no trouble at all putting the ball in the bucket.

At the intermission, Kentucky was controlling the momentum with a 59-41 advantage. Six different ‘Cats registered at least five points as the team’s 22 made field goals came off 15 assists (compared to just six turnovers). UK was shooting 59 percent from the floor (22-37) and 44 percent from beyond the arc (8-18).

Africa would throw the first punch out of the break, rattling off a 6-0 run in the early stages of the third frame that forced Kentucky into a timeout. Wagner would soon break a three-minute scoring drought for the ‘Cats with a runner in the lane, but Africa kept attacking, making it a 10-point game, 65-55, with four minutes left in the quarter.

Mitchell would extend Kentucky’s lead back out to 16 with a pair of triples and a layup under the basket. Both sides were now flying up and down the floor, but it was UK that held firm with a 78-65 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Africa refused to go away though.

Another run from BAL Select cut the Kentucky lead to under 10 for the first time since the second quarter. A timely corner three from Africa made it just a six-point contest with 5:20 left in the game. The ‘Cats would respond though with a masterful 9-0 run that was capped off by a silky triple from Reeves, which forced Africa into a timeout. Wagner’s and-one finish and another three from Reeves would polish off the win for good.

Kentucky will now prepare for one more game up north before heading back home to Lexington.