Defending national champion Kansas held Kentucky without a single second-chance basketball and hit key three-point baskets down the stretch to escape with a 77-68 win at rowdy Rupp Arena on Saturday night.
The loss before 20,418 fans ended a four-game Kentucky (14-7) win streak and snapped a three-game skid by ninth-ranked Kansas.
Oscar Tshiebwe, blanked by Kansas defenders, finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, one shy of a double-double.
Jacob Toppin and Antonio Reeves tallied 14 points apiece. Antonio Reeves came off the bench to add 10.
Leading 64-62, the Jayhawks hit three straight treys to push the lead to 73-66.
The Wildcats will next play at Ole Miss (9-12) in Oxford on Tuesday night. Game time is 9 pm.
At Lexington
SCORE BY HALVES:
KN (17-4)….41 36 – 77
UK (14-7)….34 34 – 68
Scoring:
Kansas (77) – Jalen Wilson 7(2) 2-2 22; KJ Adams Jr. 8 1-1 17; Dajuan Harris 1(2) 0-0 8; Gradey Dick (3(1) 4-4 13; Kevin McCullar 3(1) 2-3 11; Zuby Ejiofor 1 0-0 2; and Ernest Udeh Udeh Jr. 2 0-0 4. Totals: 25(6) 9-10 77.
Kentucky (68) – Jacob Toppin 6 2-4 14; Chris Livingston 4 0-0 8; Oscar Tshiebwe 6 6-8 18; CJ Fredrick 1 0-0 2; Cason Wallace 2(2) 4-5 14; Antonio Reeves 3 4-4 10; Sahvir Wheeler 1 0-0 2; and Lance Ware 0 0-2 0. Totals: 23(2) 16-23 68.
Next up: Kentucky (14-7) at Ole Miss (9-12), 9 pm, Jan. 31.