HALFTIME: Kentucky leads Tennessee 33-26

Well, what do we have here? How about a lead in Knoxville at halftime?

Coming in shorthanded with Sahvir Wheeler and Daimion Collins out, Kentucky is working with a 33-26 lead after 20 minutes. And they’re doing so against a top-five team in college basketball, one ranked No. 1 in defense by a significant margin.

CJ Fredrick leads the Wildcats with 10 points on 3-7 shooting and 2-6 from three, followed by Oscar Tshiebwe with eight points (3-6 FG) and eight rebounds, Chris Livingston with six points (2-4 FG) and Antonio Reeves with five (1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT).

Cason Wallace, who was questionable going into the matchup with back spasms, was limited to 12 minutes getting treatment and dealing with foul trouble. Adou Thiero, another spark off the bench, took two fouls, as well.

As a team, the Wildcats are shooting just 35.5% from the field and 30.0% from three, but 88.9% from the line and outrebounding the Volunteers 23-10. Tennessee is shooting 44.0% from the field, but just 22.2% from deep.

There were 11 lead changes in the first half with six different ties in the back-and-forth affair. At the end of the half, though, it was Kentucky closing things out with momentum.

Check out the halftime box score:

20 minutes to go.