Jacob Toppin shines as Kentucky MBB handles Louisville 86-63

Just call it the Jacob Toppin game.

In a matchup that Kentucky desperately needed to step up for, it was Toppin who led the way for the Wildcats. Powered by a season-high 24 points from Toppin, Kentucky (9-4) handled rival Louisville (2-12) from the opening tip to the final buzzer, coming away with an 86-63 win over the Cardinals on Saturday in Rupp Arena. The senior forward shot 10-15 from the floor en route to his impressive afternoon, chipping in seven rebounds and two assists in his 35 minutes.

Kentucky shot 60 percent from the floor throughout the game, although the ‘Cats finished just 4-13 from beyond the arc and 16-25 from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Louisville shot 47 percent from the field and an even worse clip from distance at 2-13. UK won the rebound battle 33-20, finished with 13 more assists, and scored 12 more points in the paint than the Cards.

Reigning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe was his usual self, dropping 24 points and 14 rebounds on 10-13 shooting (but shot just 4-9 from the charity stripe). Toppin was named the game’s MVP.

From the opening gate, Kentucky came out playing like a determined group. Freshman Chris Livingston got the ball rolling with a 3-pointer that was followed up by another from fellow rookie Cason Wallace. Before the game clock reach the under-16 timeout, the ‘Cats held a 14-4 advantage — and it wouldn’t go away the rest of the day.

Toppin was up to nine points not even seven minutes into the action as UK held a commanding 21-6 lead early on. Louisville responded with a 6-0 run that trimmed the lead to single digits, but Kentucky never let the Cardinals creep all the way back into the game.

At the break, UK was up 45-30 as three different ‘Cats were already in double figures: Toppin (15), Tshiebwe (10), and Wallace (10). Tshiebwe actually had a double-double after the opening half with 10 boards. As a team, Kentucky shot 63 percent from the floor.

Louisville would make its most emphatic run of the game to start the second half. Kentucky’s 15-point halftime lead slipped to just eight not even 90 seconds in. But that was the last time the Cardinals would get that close. UK immediately bounced back with a 6-0 run of its own that built another comfortable cushion.

Kentucky continued to keep its foot on the gas pedal from then on, leading by as many as 27 points during the second half before settling on the 86-63 victory. Wallace finished with 17 points and five rebounds while Sahvir Wheeler added seven points and nine assists.

Next up for Kentucky is a matchup at home against LSU set for Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.