Despite a valiant effort from a young Kentucky basketball squad, the 16th-ranked Wildcats came up short against Kansas in an 89-84 loss during the Champions Classic.
Kentucky took a seven-point lead into the half but was unable to overcome 27 points and 21 rebounds from Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson. Guard Antonio Reeves kept the Wildcats in the game with 24 points, but could not connect on two late 3s that would have knotted the game at 87 points apiece.
Kansas rallied thanks to a career-high 23-point outburst from Dajuan Harris Jr., who hit five timely 3-pointers in six attempts. Kentucky’s Adou Thiero provided a significant energy boost, continuously crashing the glass, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
More:Watch Kentucky-Kansas live with Fubo (free trial)
Kentucky’s largest lead of the game was at 14 points, but the 3-point shooting of the Wildcats (12 of 38) wasn’t consistent through the game after freshman guard Rob Dillingham was forced to leave the second half early due to foul trouble. In the first half, Dillingham hit four consecutive 3s to blow the game open before Kansas slowed down the game by getting to the free throw line.
Here are highlights and updates from the contest:
Kentucky vs. Kansas score
| Teams | 1H | 2H | Final |
| Kentucky | 48 | 36 | 84 |
| Kansas | 41 | 48 | 89 |
Kentucky vs. Kansas updates, highlights
Final: Kentucky 84, Kansas 89
All times Eastern
12:01 a.m.: Jamari McDowell hits a pair o free throws to ice the game.
Midnight: Sheppard forces up a 3-pointer that air balls.
11:58 p.m.: Kentucky forces a shot clock violation and will get the ball back.
11:55 p.m.: Two missed 3s by Reeves puts the ball in the Jayhawks hands with 32.2 seconds on the clock. Timeout Kansas as coach Bill Self looks to draw up a play.
11:54 p.m.: Dickinson spins baseline and makes a left-handed hook to put Kansas up three.
11:50 p.m.: Tre Mitchell is called for a foul while banging down low with Dickinson, who hits both free throws to give Kansas the lead.
Back-to-back 3s from Harris gives him a career-high
11:48 p.m.: Harris has hit all five of his 3s and has a new career-high of 21 points.
11:47 p.m.: Harris hits his fourth 3 of the game and 18 points. Reeves answers with a floater.
11:44 p.m.: Adams has fouled out of the game after a bad foul on Reeves. Reeves hits both free throws to get the lead up to six.
11:42 p.m.: Kansas continues to get in transition. Adams is up to 16 points after a put-back layup, and Jackson is fouled on a fast-break and will go to the free throw line.
11:40 p.m.: After Jackson tries to jump a ball-screen, Sheppard crosses over to his right hand and finishes the open layup forcing a Jayhawks timeout.
Reeves And-1 on the fast break
11:36 p.m.: Reeves hits Jackson with a beautiful euro-step and finishes with his left hand. His scoring has kept the Wildcats in this game, as he has 20 points.
11:35 p.m.: Harris finds Adams after a great cut from the big man. Harris hits him with a beautiful pass, his seventh assist to go with 15 points.
Harris finds Parker Brown from the slam
11:29 p.m.: Harris drives and hits a cutting Parker Brown across the baseline for a two-handed jam. Sheppard answers with a 3.
11:26 p.m.: Four fouls on Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham. D.J. Wagner will take his place.
11:24 p.m.: Reeves makes a big 3 from the top of the key to stifle the Jayhawks momentum after Kentucky missed seven of their last nine shots.
11:20 p.m.: On a 3-on-2 fastbreak, McCullar makes a tough layup while getting fouled as Kansas takes the lead. Kentucky is beginning to look a bit worn-out as Kansas repeatedly gets into transition.
Harris to Dickinson for the alley-oop
11:18 p.m.: Harris connects with Dickinson for an alley-oop. Dickinson follows it up with a tip-in and hypes up the crowd at United Center after tying the game.
K.J. Adams dunk forces Kentucky timeout
11:14 p.m.: A monstrous dunk by Adams after a half-court alley-oop forces a Kentucky timeout and caps a Kansas 7-0 run to pull the Jayhawks to within four.
Two And-1s by Kansas pulls them to within single digits
11:11 p.m.: Dickinson roars after an offensive rebound, layup, while drawing the foul. He kept the ball high away from swinging Kentucky defenders. He has 15 points and 13 rebounds. Shortly after, K.J. Adams has his own layup plus the foul.
11:10 p.m.: Dillingham is up to 18 points after a pair of free throws.
11:04 p.m.: Kentucky leaves Harris open and he makes them pay with a 3-pointer. He has hit all three of his 3-point attempts today. Timeout after a Tre Mitchell foul.
11:02 p.m.: Reeves responds to the scuffle with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Harris and Reeves get chippy after Harris bucket
11:01 p.m.: Harris pump-faked and drove for a right-handed floater. After the play, Reeves extended a forearm which Harris took exception to, and the duo had words before being separated quickly.
10:57 p.m.: D.J. Wagner makes a free throw and a fast break layup to open the second half.
10:55 p.m.: Kentucky will start with the ball.
Halftime: Kentucky 48, Kansas 41
10:38 p.m.: Dickinson hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer from the top of the key to cut Kentucky lead to seven going into halftime.
Thiero put-back dunk
10:36 p.m.: Thiero’s energy is infectious. He has 13 points and 8 rebounds in this game. He threw down a left-handed put-back dunk after a missed Reeves 3, even getting a celebratory rise out of coach John Calipari.
10:33 p.m.: Reeves heads to the free-throw line after an offensive rebound on a fast break.
10:28 p.m.: On a 4-on-2 fast break, Thiero throws down a put-back dunk after a Dillingham miss, showing his 6-11 wingspan.
K.J. Adams thunderous dunk
10:27 p.m.: After the timeout, Adams ducks in and gets the pass from Dajuan Harris, throwing it down with two hands.
10:22 p.m.: Adams gets a much-needed strong bucket inside to stop the Kentucky run.
10:20 p.m.: Dillingham unselfishly finds Reeves for a wing 3-pointer as United Center explodes. Kentucky takes its largest lead of the night.
Four straight threes from Rob Dillingham
10:18 p.m.: Dillingham hits three straight 3s, showcasing his ability to explode offensively. Dillingham has 13 points.
10:15 p.m.: Thiero attacks Dickinson and takes the bump before getting to his right-hand for the reverse layup.
10:10 p.m.: Dillingham uses his quickness to get to the paint and finishes with the right-handed floater. Dajuan Harris answers with his own floater off the glass on the other hand.
10:08 p.m.: McCullar gets back to the free-throw line after attacking the Reed Sheppard matchup.
10:04 p.m.: After two 3s by Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, McCullar answers with his own layup plus the foul. Timeout.
Back-to-back 3s by Reed Sheppard gives Kentucky their first lead
10:02 p.m.: Adams swats away an Antonio Reeves layup. A Hunter Dickinson offensive rebound leads to Kevin McCullar layup.
10:00 p.m.: The two teams go back-and-forth. Kentucky already has four steals, while Kansas has one of their own.
Kentucky responds with an 8-0 run
9:57 p.m.: Block by Justin Edwards with his left hand. And-1 by Tre Mitchell, and he makes the free throw.
9:52 p.m.: Hunter Dickinson’s length has been popping to start, he already has an offensive rebound and four points close to the basket. Kentucky got on the board with a Thiero 3-pointer.
Kansas 9-0 run to start the game
9:49 p.m.: Kansas kicks off the game with a 5-0 run after a 3-pointer from Dajuan Harris Jr. and a jump-hook by K.J. Adams Jr.
9:47 p.m.: The two teams tip off as Kansas gains possession to start.
9:37 p.m.: Kentucky’s starters: DJ Wagner, Antonio Reeves, Justin Edwards, Adou Thiero, Tre Mitchell
9:35 p.m.: Tip-off is just minutes away at the United Center in Chicago.
REQUIRED READING:Kentucky basketball, ahead of game vs. Kansas, rolls to win after another sluggish start
What channel is Kentucky vs. Kansas on today?
Kentucky’s game against Kansas will air nationally on ESPN. Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) will be on the call while Holly Rowe serves as the sideline reporter.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, as well as WatchESPN.com, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Kentucky vs. Kansas start time
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 14
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday’s Champions Classic meeting between Kentucky and Kansas is scheduled to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET. It will take place 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Michigan State-Duke game.
Kentucky vs. Kansas betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
- Spread: Kansas (-6.5)
- Over/under: 147.5
- Moneyline: Kansas (-300) | Kentucky +250
Kentucky basketball schedule 2023-24
| Date | Opponent |
| Monday, Nov. 6 | Kentucky 86, New Mexico State 46 |
| Friday, Nov. 10 | Kentucky 81, Texas A&M-Commerce 61 |
| Tuesday, Nov. 14 | vs. No. 1 Kansas (Chicago)* |
| Friday, Nov. 17 | vs. Stonehill |
| Monday, Nov. 20 | vs. Saint Joseph’s |
| Friday, Nov. 24 | vs. Marshall |
| Tuesday, Nov. 28 | vs. Miami |
* Champions Classic
Kansas basketball schedule 2023-24
| Date | Opponent |
| Monday, Nov. 6 | Kansas 99, North Carolina Central 56 |
| Friday, Nov. 10 | Kansas 99, Manhattan 61 |
| Tuesday, Nov. 14 | vs. No. 16 Kentucky (Chicago)* |
| Monday, Nov. 20 | vs. Chaminade** |
| Tuesday, Nov. 21 | vs. TBD** |
| Wednesday, Nov. 22 | vs. TBD** |
| Tuesday, Nov. 28 | vs. Eastern Illinois |
* Champions Classic** Maui Invitational
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First appeared on www.courier-journal.com