Postgame notes, cumulative stats from Kentucky's win over Carleton University

You likely already know this, but Kentucky has been straight up dominating the competition this week on the program’s Big Blue Bahamas Tour. Saturday night was no different for the Wildcats, which smacked Carleton University (Canada) by a final score of 118-56. Through three games, Kentucky has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 328-152. That’s pretty good.

The ‘Cats will play one more contest to close out the four-game trip with a matchup against the Bahamas National Team on Sunday at noon EST on the SEC Network. Below are the postgame notes from tonight’s win, along with cumulative stats from Kentucky’s first three games in the Bahamas, courtesy of UK Athletics.

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FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 118, Carleton University 56

• This was Kentucky’s third exhibition game of the Big Blue Bahamas foreign exhibition tour. UK will play one additional game during the tour.
• The Wildcats return to the Baha Mar Grand Ballroom court on Sunday vs. The Bahamas National Team. That game will tip at Noon on the SEC Network.
• UK improved to 12-1 in the Bahamas foreign tours. The Wildcats went 5-1 in their first foreign tour in the Bahamas in 2014 and 4-0 in their second stint in 2018. 9-1
• Kentucky is 143-12 all-time in exhibition games and has won 22 straight. UK is 40-1 in exhibition contests under head coach John Calipari.

First-Half Facts

• Kentucky opened with a different lineup for the third consecutive game. Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin and Lance Ware were the first five.
• A steal and dunk by Wallace at the 18:46 mark was the game’s first bucket.
• Oscar Tshiebwe checked in as UK’s first sub at 17:14.
• Carleton knotted the score at four, but Fredrick converted a traditional three-point play on the ensuing possession. It sparked a 19-2 run to give Kentucky a 23-6 lead.  During the run, UK made each of its seven field-goal attempts.
• Antonio Reeves hit a pair of 3-pointers and had a dunk during the offensive run.
• Paced by a pair of 3s from Toppin, Kentucky pushed its lead to 35-10 with 7:57 remaining behind an 8-0 run.
• Kentucky exploded for 55 points in the opening half behind a 54.8% field-goal percentage (23-42) and exceptional defense. UK forced Carleton into 16 first-half turnovers and limited the Ravens to just 25.8% shooting.
• UK had 25 points off turnovers and 13 fastbreak points.
• Reeves, Toppin and Sahvir Wheeler all reached double-digit scoring. Toppin and Wheeler both had 12, while Reeves scored 10. Eight Wildcats scored in the opening half.
• Kentucky also dominated on the boards behind a 25-17 margin, with Tshiebwe corralling seven.
• Adou Thiero charted three steals, with Wallace and Tshiebwe also picking up a pair.

Second-Half Story

• Wheeler, Wallace, Chris Livingston, Toppin and Tshiebwe started the second half.
• Kentucky began the second frame in much of the same fashion. The Cats scored the first seven points and forced three early turnovers.
• UK utilized a 12-0 spurt over 2:37 of time to move the lead to 54 points at 77-23 with 14:32 to play.
• Kentucky started 11 of 14 from the floor (78.6%), 3 of 3 from behind the arc, 3 of 3 at the line and scored 29 points in the first 8:10 of the half.
• Toppin’s jumper with 6:20 to play pushed UK over the century mark for a 101-39 lead.
• Kentucky drained four straight 3-pointers and moved the score to 113-44, its largest lead of the game, at the final media timeout with 4:10 remaining.

Team Notes

• Kentucky forced Carleton into 28 turnovers which led to 45 points off of turnovers for the Cats.
  • UK is averaging 15.2 steals per game and 7.3 blocks in the three games in The Bahamas.
• UK generated 22 steals with Wallace and Thiero both swiping five.
• The Cats also shot well. UK was 48 of 82 (58.5%) from the field, 15-30 (50.0%) from long range and 7-8 (87.5%) from the charity stripe.
  • In three games in The Bahamas, Kentucky is shooting 56.3% from the field, 40.2% from 3-point range and 85.4% at the line.
• Kentucky made 15 3-pointers, with Toppin and Reeves both connecting on five apiece.
• Kentucky dominated in the paint, winning that category 42-30.
• The Cats were also better on the boards, owning a 42-31 advantage.
  • UK is plus-20.7 on the boards over the three games this week.

Player Notes  

• Jacob Toppin led the way with 27 points, six assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
  • He made 11 of 14 from the field and sank five 3-pointers.
  • The point total, made field goals, 3-pointers and assists would have all been career highs had this been a regular-season game.
  • He is averaging a team-high 15.7 points per game.
• Antonio Reeves scored 23 points and added three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
  • He made five 3-pointers and has a team-high 10 over the three games.
• Sahvir Wheeler posted 17 points, a game-high-tying six assists and he registered a blocked shot.
  • Wheeler is shooting 60.0% from the field and has 20 assists over the three games played this week.
• Cason Wallace registered 15 points, five steals, four assists and three rebounds in an all-around effort.
  • He made three 3-pointers, the most he’s drained in a game this week.
  • He is averaging 12.3 points per game this week and is shooting 45.5% from long range.
• Oscar Tshiebwe had eight points and 13 rebounds, while adding a pair of assists and three steals.
• Adou Thiero matched Wallace with five steals. He also contributed five points and two boards.