Kentucky’s Jacob Toppin scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, including a pair of clutch free throws in the closing seconds, to help the Wildcats hold off LSU in the SEC home opener played at Rupp Arena on Tuesday night.
UK is now 10-4 following the win while the Tigers dropped to 12-2 overall. LSU had won seven straight. The Wildcats extended their home winning streak to 28 games.
Oscar Tshiebwe had 19 points and 16 rebounds while Cason Wallace followed with 14 points and Sahvir Wheeler net 11. Wheeler was one assist shy of a double-double.
The Wildcats will play at Alabama on Saturday. Game time is 1 pm.
At Lexington
SCORE BY HALVES:
LSU (12-2)….38 33 – 71
UK (10-4)…..42 32 – 74
Scoring:
LSU (71) – KJ Williams 4(4) 3-3 23; Derek Fountain 3 0-0 6; Cam Hayes 1(2) 3-3 11; Adam Miller 0(5) 0-0 15; Trae Hannibal 5 2-4 12; Justice Williams 1 0-0 2; and Jalen Reed 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15(11) 8-10 71.
Kentucky (74) – Jacob Toppin 8(1) 2-2 21; Chris Livingston 0(1) 2-2 5; Oscar Tshiebwe 7 5-7 19; Sahvir Wheeler 1(3) 0-1 11; Cason Wallace 4(2) 0-0 14; Antonio Reeves 0 2-2 2; and Daimion Collins 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21(7) 11-14 74.
Next up: Kentucky (10-4) at Alabama (9-2), 1 pm, Jan. 7