FINAL: Kentucky survives late scare at Mississippi State

With a much-needed Quad 1 victory up for grabs, Kentucky Basketball traveled to Starkville where Mississippi State hosted the Wildcats in a pivotal game on the schedule for two bubble teams. A “White Out” in Humphrey Coliseum, Kentucky arrived with a thin backcourt, missing veteran guards Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick to the injury report.

Still, it was Kentucky that proved to be the better team in the fight, ending a five-game win streak for first-year head coach Chris Jans’ Bulldogs. The Wildcats were in control for most of the game–key word there being most–and escaped the Hump with a 71-68 win, the team’s eighth in conference play.

In the beginning, Kentucky’s starting five of Cason Wallace, Antonio Reeves, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin, and Oscar Tshiebwe trailed early, but then Kentucky played one of the best eight-minute stretches of the season to gain a seven-point lead midway through the first half. Leading the way, Tshiebwe and Reeves scored 14 of the Wildcats’ first 16 points with Reeves hitting four of his first five shots and three of his first four three-pointers for 11 early points before halftime.

But then Kentucky’s defense collapsed and allowed 16 first-half points in the paint to let the Bulldogs back in the game. With seconds to go in the first period, Jacob Toppin drilled a late three-pointer to push Kentucky ahead by four, only for Mississippi State’s Cameron Matthews to bank in a response at the buzzer on the other end.

Kentucky led at intermission, 36-35.

Three minutes into the second half, Shakeel Moore dunked on Adou Thiero’s head on a fast break, immediately followed by a Dashawn Davis finish at the rim through a foul on Chris Livingston. The crowd in Humphrey Coliseum erupted and the road team appeared to be in trouble. But Kentucky answered with seven straight points and then a deep three-pointer by Livingston to put Kentucky back up five, 48-43, at the second media timeout.

From there, it was even more Kentucky as the Wildcats had a second 7-0 scoring run, this time to go up by double digits. The run included a stretch of five offensive rebounds in 46 seconds before Mississippi State got a possession. In the eight minutes since surviving the dunk and layup, Kentucky went on an 18-2 run to lead by 13 points.

But as you know, it’s never easy with this Kentucky team.

Right when things looked to be in the bag, the offense completely fell apart and allowed a Mississippi State comeback. With over two minutes to go, Kentucky’s lead dwindled to four points, having allowed seven consecutive made baskets.

It became a free throw contest down to the very end and Mississippi would get one last look to tie the game at the buzzer, but the Bulldogs bobbled the attempt as time expired.

Kentucky survived, 71-68.

Box Score: Kentucky 71, Mississippi State 68