LEXINGTON — Antonio Reeves, CJ Frederick, and Cason Wallace put on a show during Kentucky’s season-opener against Howard.
Reeves came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points while hitting 6-of-12 shot attempts from 3-point range during the Wildcats’ 95-63 rout.
Frederick totaled 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor while Wallace turned in a 15-point scoring effort while finishing with a team-high nine assists. He also pulled down eight rebounds.
Jacob Toppin continued his impressive play, recording a double-double with 15 points, and 11 rebounds.
“Chemistry was definitely out there,” Reeves said. “We all moved the ball pretty well. [We] ran the floor pretty well – rebounded and got a couple of assists through there. So, I think the whole team had a great game today and we just have to move on to the next game.”
John Calipari’s squad was without the services of consensus 2021-22 National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe, point guard Sahvir Wheeler, and sophomore Daimion Collins but that didn’t keep Kentucky (1-0) from building a 49-26 halftime lead behind 16-of-31 shooting from the floor, including a 5-of-12 effort from 3-point range.
The Wildcats limited the Bison to only 10-of-36 shooting during the first 20 minutes, including a 2-of-13 effort from 3-point territory.
Calipari’s squad continued to dominate in the second half, outscoring Howard, 46-37, while hitting on 18-of-31 shot attempts.
Kentucky finished the game with a 34-of-62 shooting effort, including hitting 11-of-24 shot attempts from behind the arc.
The Wildcats outrebounded the Bison, 42-37, but struggled from the free-throw line, hitting only 16-of-28 shot attempts. They also forced 16 turnovers.
Howard finished the game hitting on only 23-of-67 shot attempts, including a 7-of-25 shooting effort from 3-point range.
Another bright spot in the win was the play of Ugonna Onyenso, who came off the bench and played 20 minutes, scoring six points while leading the team with four blocks.
Beginning its 121st season of men’s basketball, UK now has a 99-21 record in season lidlifters (no official games played in the 1952-53 season).
Kentucky is 11-3 in season openers under Calipari, and 14-0 in home openers.
The Wildcats scored their most points and had the largest margin of victory (32 points) in a season opener since a 108-58 win over Marist on Nov. 11, 2011.
This was the first time that Kentucky and Howard have played on the hardwood and UK is now 7-0 against teams comprising the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Wildcats return to action Friday, Nov. 11, at home against Duquesne. Game time is 7 p.m. and it will be televised on the SEC Network.
