Record first half leads No. 16 Kentucky past Marshall
Nov 24, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham (0) celebrates after making a basket during the first half against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. credits: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports D.J. Wagner scored a season-high 28 points and Antonio Reeves added 23 to lift No. 16 Kentucky to a 118-82 victory over Marshall on Friday in Lexington, Ky.
Wagner made 10 of 14 shots from the floor, four days after he and Tre Mitchell each scored 22 points in a 96-88 overtime win over Saint Joseph's.
Mitchell had 18 points on Friday for the Wildcats (5-1), who shot a robust 65 percent from the floor (26 of 40) in the first half and 72.7 percent from 3-point range (8 of 11) to seize a 69-41 lead.
The 69 points set a Rupp Arena record for a single half, while Kentucky hit 16 3-pointers, its fourth consecutive game with at least 12. The Wildcats produced such a four-game run just once previously in school history (Dec. 4-19, 1989).
Kentucky's Rob Dillingham made 7 of 8 shots from the floor and finished with 16 points off the bench. Reed Sheppard had 12 points, Justin Edwards added 10 and Adou Thiero contributed six points and seven rebounds to help the Wildcats win their third straight game.
Marshall's Obinna Anochili-Killen scored 12 of his 22 points in the first half. Nate Martin collected 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Thundering Herd (2-4), who have lost two in a row for the second time this season.
Marshall trimmed its deficit to 15-14 after Kamdyn Curfman and Anochili-Killen each made a 3-pointer, but Kentucky scored 14 of the game's next 16 points. Edwards added a pair of 3-pointers in that surge.
Reeves sank a pair of 3-pointers and Edwards added another to increase the Wildcats' lead to 55-28.
Kentucky kept its foot on the gas, with Reeves (15 points), Mitchell (14), Wagner (13) and Edwards (10) all finishing the half with double-digit scoring.
Wagner's layup extended the Wildcats' lead to 98-59 midway into the second half.
The outcome was never in doubt the rest of the way.
—Field Level Media
Related
Cleveland Browns Need To Move on From Deshaun Watson Era
Duke’s Collapse vs UConn Adds to Troubling March Pattern
NBA Best Bets Today: Top Betting Picks for Monday March 30th
Why Illinois Is the Most Dangerous Team in the Final Four
Tiger Woods’ Legacy at a Crossroads After Latest DUI Arrest
- Top NBA Bets Today: Expert Picks for March 29 Slate
- UFC Seattle Predictions: Adesanya vs Pyfer Main Event Betting Picks and More
- Arizona vs Purdue Elite 8 March Madness Betting Picks, Prediction
- NBA Picks for March 27: Best Bets for Friday Night Slate
- Why St. John's Can Cover Sweet 16 Spread Against Duke
- MLB Best Betting Picks for Friday March 27th Slate
- Three Sweet 16 Teams To Avoid Betting in March Madness This Weekend

