The Kentucky Wildcats headlined the SEC-Big 12 Challenge on Saturday with a top-10 showdown on their home floor, and after a slow start in the first half, they found a way to pull off a statement victory. P.J. Washington finished with 20 points, including 14 in the second half, as the eighth-ranked Wildcats topped the ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, 71-63. Washington also had 13 rebounds on the night, while Reid Travis added a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds in Kentucky's 16th win of the season. Keldon Johnson also had a productive day with 15 points and 10 rebounds, as the Wildcats came away with a win in the defensive-filled battle.
Neither team shot over 40 percent on the night, but the Wildcats out-rebounded the Jayhawks, 49-36, to help them overcome an early eight-point deficit. They trailed by three at halftime, but found a way to snap their three-game skid against Kansas. Johnson was clutch down the stretch with three field goals made from beyond the arc in the second half, where the Wildcats outscored the Jayhawks, 41-30, at Rupp Arena. The win was the Wildcats' sixth in a row, with the last three coming against team that were ranked in the top 25.
Dedric Lawson led Kansas with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Quentin Grimes had 13 points, but the Jayhawks suffered their second loss in the past three games. Kansas finished at just 37 percent from the floor, thanks to second half struggles, which sent them to their fourth loss of the season, despite Lawson's 14th double-double of the year.
The Wildcats will look to bounce off this victory when they visit the an upset-minded Vanderbilt team on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks will visit the Texas Longhorns in a Big-12 matchup that same night.
Neither team shot over 40 percent on the night, but the Wildcats out-rebounded the Jayhawks, 49-36, to help them overcome an early eight-point deficit. They trailed by three at halftime, but found a way to snap their three-game skid against Kansas. Johnson was clutch down the stretch with three field goals made from beyond the arc in the second half, where the Wildcats outscored the Jayhawks, 41-30, at Rupp Arena. The win was the Wildcats' sixth in a row, with the last three coming against team that were ranked in the top 25.
Dedric Lawson led Kansas with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Quentin Grimes had 13 points, but the Jayhawks suffered their second loss in the past three games. Kansas finished at just 37 percent from the floor, thanks to second half struggles, which sent them to their fourth loss of the season, despite Lawson's 14th double-double of the year.
The Wildcats will look to bounce off this victory when they visit the an upset-minded Vanderbilt team on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks will visit the Texas Longhorns in a Big-12 matchup that same night.
