Kentucky is winning games at a key time as the Wildcats continue their last season drive to reach the NCAA tournament field.
Center Oscar Tshiebwe poured in 25 points as Kentucky beat Florida, 82-74, on the road on Wednesday night.
The win was the third straight as the Wildcats moved to 19-9.
Chris Livingston scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds. Jacob Toppin added 19 points and 11 boards. Antonio Reeves finished with 16 points.
Kentucky will return to Rupp Arena to host the Auburn Tigers on Saturday in search of their 20th win.
Game time is 4 pm.
At Gainesville, Fla.
SCORE BY HALVES:
UK (19-9)….36 46 – 82
UF (14-14)…37 37 – 74
Scoring:
Kentucky (82) – Jacob Toppin 5(2) 3-4 19; Chris Livingston 4 2-3 10; Oscar Tshiebwe 12 1-3 25; Antonio Reeves 4(2) 2-2 16; Cason Wallace 2 4-4 8; Adou Thiero 1 0-0 2; and Lance ware 1 0-0 2. Totals: 29(4) 12-16 82.
Florida (74) – Jason Jitoboh 4 0-1 8; Myreon Jones 0(1) 0-0 3; Will Richards 1(1) 0-0 5; Kyle Lofton 3 3-4 9; Riley Kugel 3(4) 6-7 24; Niels Lane 3 2-2 8; Kowacie Reeves 4(2) 2-2 16; and Denzel Aberdeen 0 1-2 1. Totals: 18(8) 14-20 74.
Next up: Kentucky (19-9) vs. Auburn (19-9), 4 pm, Feb. 25.