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The Kentucky Wildcats were back in action Tuesday after their thrilling win over the Auburn Tigers, as they now looked to get a season sweep over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The game couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for the Cats, as they led this one 10-0 just four minutes into the game.
The hot start continued, as the Cats built up a 21-8 lead at the under-12 media timeout.
However, the dreaded cold streak would come after the Cats took a 25-8 lead, as they went over four minutes without a basket, allowing Vanderbilt to cut the lead to 25-15 before Kentucky scored again.
Despite allowing Vandy to cut the lead to single digits, Kentucky was able to close the half strong and take a 42-30 lead into the break.
The 2nd half got off to a horrible start for the Cats, as they saw their lead shrink to 44-40 at the first media timeout.
Vanderbilt would tie the game at 46, but a Davion Mintz three with just over 13 minutes to play put the Cats back on top.
With just over 10 minutes to play, Kentucky led 53-51. From that point until the under-8 media timeout, the Cats would extend their lead to 60-53.
Unfortunately, they allowed Vanderbilt to keep it close, and the lead was just 62-57 with just under five minutes to play.
Down the stretch, the officials really wanted to make it about them, as Kentucky had a ton of calls go against them in the closing stages.
However, Kentucky was able to make the plays down the stretch and cashed in from the free-throw line to get the 82-78 victory.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the game:
These five will start us up tonight in Nashville. pic.twitter.com/WxPMHy4ZXN
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 17, 2021
This place has got to be even worse to play in while empty
— John Robic's Hair (@JohnRobicsHair) February 18, 2021
Knocking down a bunch of threes makes a team better. #analysis
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 18, 2021
BJ Boston looks like a different dude
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 18, 2021
This Boston is just a hoot to watch.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) February 18, 2021
This is exactly why Cal didn’t give up on BJ Boston, his peak takes us further than anyone else on the team can.
— Dal (@dalsweatshirt) February 18, 2021
These last 3-4 games something has just clicked in BJ Boston. Continues his hot streak to start this one, as Kentucky gets up 15-5 due to Boston's eight quick points.
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) February 18, 2021
I thought I was used to quiet basketball games by now, but a quiet Memorial Gymnasium (especially for UK/Vandy) is surreal. Vandy let in a limited amount of students but clearly not many showed up. No piped in crowd noise it seems either.
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) February 18, 2021
#BBN playing and I’m locked in. Let’s pop these boys
— Skyy Clark (@skyyclark) February 18, 2021
Kentucky is and has almost always been better than Vanderbilt.
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) February 18, 2021
What confuses me is why of late they struggle so much with them at home and kick their ass in Nashville
Isaiah Jackson really does try to kill people when he dunks.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) February 18, 2021
Guys are smiling. I think I see fun. There's fun being had. What is this?
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 18, 2021
Cats played the first 9 1/2 minutes tonight without turning it over.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) February 18, 2021
Keion Brooks has 0 points in 11 minutes tonight, but ...
— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) February 18, 2021
3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocked shots, 0 turnovers.
Offensive rebounds, loose balls and Kentucky turnovers keeping Vanderbilt connected despite shooting 28% with 9 TOs.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) February 18, 2021
Isaiah Jackson is special.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) February 18, 2021
Isaiah Jackson tonight pic.twitter.com/TICRtw4dbO
— Angelo Carriero (@AngeloMediaLex) February 18, 2021
Kentucky is 19-0 all-time against Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium when they lead by at least 10 points at halftime
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) February 18, 2021
'Cats lead is shrinking. UK leaving points on the board with missed shots around the hoop.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 18, 2021
Bad team does bad things
— Ian Teasley (@ianteasley) February 18, 2021
The whistle is awful quiet on the left side of the floor
— Colton Covington (@C_Cov_) February 18, 2021
Don’t you do this, Kentucky.
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) February 18, 2021
Lance Ware was in for the first time tonight. Remember when guys didn't play in the second half if they didn't play in the first half?
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) February 18, 2021
Too many men on the court....this season finds new ways to amaze me
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 18, 2021
Pretty cool that Jackson got a block standing flat-footed. Don't see that a lot either
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) February 18, 2021
Vanderbilt is in the bonus and meanwhile hasn’t committed a foul.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) February 18, 2021
Vandy's first foul of the second half comes at the 11:29 mark.
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) February 18, 2021
Olivier Sarr is basically Perry Stevenson
— All Things Kentucky (@BBNWonka) February 18, 2021
Raise your hand if you know how many fouls Isaiah Jackson has.
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) February 18, 2021
0. The faith I have in Askew handling the ball down the stretch
— Dad of Queens (@jrasmussbbn) February 18, 2021
Huge shot by Jacob Toppin
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) February 18, 2021
Kentucky never having any answer for Dylan Disu is so mystifying.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) February 18, 2021
Great night for Toppin. Big buckets. Have felt all year, even when he hasn't played well, he just looks like someone who could put it all together and become special. Things you can't teach.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 18, 2021
What are we really doing here @SEC
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) February 18, 2021
COLLEGE REFS ARE SO BAD
— Dal (@dalsweatshirt) February 18, 2021
College basketball is the worst sport.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) February 18, 2021
Damn @KeionB_12
— Keion Brooks (@keion_brooks) February 18, 2021
That charge call against Keion was absolutely horrible. The defender clearly jumped forward after Brooks had left the ground. It may cost Kentucky the game.
— Big Blue Express (@bigbluexpress) February 18, 2021
Toppin came to Kentucky planning to redshirt this season. He had 16 and 4 and clutch free throws tonight.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) February 18, 2021
“For Jacob, this is found money. This is money he found in the couch. Some nice change he picked up.” https://t.co/YRBoXrCxlj
I can’t believe College Basketball officials think calling this a charge is good for the game pic.twitter.com/BXIsTXoZxT
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 18, 2021
Tonight was Kentucky's best free-throw shooting performance in a game (min. 25 att.) (96%) since January 7th, 1992 vs. Georgia (also 96%, 24-25)
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) February 18, 2021
Go Cats! #WeAreUK #BBN https://t.co/BqQbYPie9n pic.twitter.com/nufUExDUSM
— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) February 18, 2021
Gritty stuff. pic.twitter.com/vpIjPATq6T
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 18, 2021
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