COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Kansas overcomes big deficit to edge Kentucky

Photo Credit/UK Athletics

Top-ranked Kansas closed the game on an 11-1 run ro rally past Kentucky, 89-84, in the nightcap of the Champions Classic played at the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats, now 2-1, led 58-44 with 15 minutes, 14 seconds remaining. The Jayhawks used a 21-4 run to retake the lead at 65-62 with 10:53 to play.

UK went back up by five at 83-78 with 3:12 to play before Kansas used the late spurt to win.

Antonio Reeves led the Wildcats with 24 points and Rob Dillingham added a season-high 18. 

Ado Thiero finished with a double-double, scoring 16 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. Reed Sheppard had a season-high 15 points.

Kentucky will return to Ruop Arena to face Stonehill on Friday night. Tipoff is 7 pm.

At Chicago

SCORE BY HALVES:

UK (2-1)…….48 36 – 84

KU (3-0)…….41 48 – 89

Scoring:

Kentucky (84) – Tre Mitchell 1(1) 3-7 8; Justin Edwards 0 1-2 1; Ado Thiero 4(1) 5-6 16; Antonio Reeves4(3) 7-7 24; D.J.Wagner 1 2-4 4; Rob Dillingham 2(4) 2-2 18; and Reed Sheppard 1(3) 2-2 15. Totals: 13(12) 22-30 84.

Kansas (89) – K.J. Adams Jr. 8 0-3 16; Hunter Dickinson 7(1) 10-11 27; Dajuan Harris Jr. 2(5) 4-5 23; Elmarko Jackson 1 5-6 7; Kevin McCullar Jr. 3 6-9 12; Parker Braun 1 0-0 2; and Jamari McDowell 0 2-2 2. Totals: 22(6) 27-36.

Next up: Kentucky (2-1) vs. Stonehill (1-4), 7 pm, Nov. 17.