Friday, March 29

Kentucky blows out Kansas at The Phog in Big 12/SEC Challenge


LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Kentucky men’s basketball team traveled to Kansas looking for a resume-boosting win. It left with the kind of victory statement that will leave no choice but to view the Wildcats as one of the favorites to win a national championship.

Behind a career-high 27 points from junior forward Keion Brooks, No. 13 Kentucky dominated No. 5 Kansas 80-62 in its home arena.

Kentucky led by 20 points at halftime and never by fewer than 14 points in the second half. Seven different UK players scored within the first eight minutes of the game.

National Player of the Year candidate Oscar Tshiebwe posted another double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds while playing stout defense throughout. Super senior guard Kellan Grady (12) and junior forward Jacob Toppin (11) also finished in double figures.

Here is what you need to know about the win.

Keion Brooks stars with career-best performance

Kentucky forward Keion Brooks Jr. dunks the ball as during the first half against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse.

John Calipari has frequently pointed to areas other than scoring to judge Brooks’ performance, so it was likely a sign of good things to come when Brooks grabbed Kentucky’s first two rebounds of the game and turned one into a put-back dunk.

It was Brooks who took over the game in the second half to prevent Kansas from pulling back into the game. Tshiebwe opened the second half with a jumper, but Brooks scored the Wildcats’ next 15 points. When Kansas mounted a mini 7-0 run to bring the capacity Allen Fieldhouse crowd back into the game, Brooks silenced the run with a mid-range jumper.




www.usatoday.com

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