Reed Sheppard, No. 12 Kentucky overpower No. 8 Miami

Field Level Media|published: Tue 28th November, 22:09 2023

Nov 28, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Reed Sheppard (15) reacts after making a basket during the first half against the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. credits: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Freshman reserve Reed Sheppard had an outstanding all-around game with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals as No. 12 Kentucky knocked off No. 8 Miami 95-73 on Tuesday night in Lexington, Ky.

The contest was part of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.

The Wildcats (6-1), who won their fourth straight game, also got 18 points from Antonio Reeves plus 14 points and seven assists from Tre Mitchell.

Sheppard made 8 of 13 shots from the floor and 5 of 9 from 3-point range. The rest of the Wildcats shot 4-for-12 from long distance.

The only negative for Kentucky happened in the first half, when starting guard D.J. Wagner left the game due to a leg injury. He did not return.

Miami (5-1) was led by Norchad Omier (20 points, six rebounds) and Wooga Poplar (19 points, eight rebounds). However, Matthew Cleveland (five points) and Nijel Pack (two points) were held down. The duo entered the game averaging a combined 32.8 points.

Cleveland, though, had perhaps the most spectacular play of the first half as he blocked Adou Thiero's dunk attempt.

Miami took an early 8-4 lead thanks in part to 3-for-3 shooting by Poplar on mid-range jumpers. Kentucky responded with a 17-3 run to take a 10-point lead.

The Hurricanes then surged ahead with an 18-2 run, but the Wildcats finished the first half on an 8-0 stretch, taking a 42-37 lead. Miami went scoreless for the last three minutes.

In the first half, Kentucky had a 26-10 edge in paint points and a 12-7 advantage in transition.

Poplar led all first-half scorers with 13 points as Miami shot 45.2 percent from the floor, including 4-for-11 on 3-point tries (36.4 percent).

Kentucky shot 53.1 percent from the floor before the break but just 2-for-10 from deep.

In the second half, Kentucky raced to a 51-39 lead, forcing Miami to call time with 17:56 left.

The Wildcats, though, kept rolling, and they led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

For the game, Kentucky shot 59.7 percent from the floor and 9-for-21 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc.

Miami hit 44.1 percent of its field-goal attempts and 5 of 19 (26.3 percent) from 3-point range.

—Field Level Media