Oscar Tshiebwe had 20 points, 16 rebounds and three steals as No. 9 Kentucky cruised to an 85-57 win over Central Michigan on Monday in Lexington, Ky.
TyTy Washington Jr. added 15 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats (6-1). Dontaie Allen chipped in with nine points and six rebounds, and Keion Brooks Jr. also had nine points. Sahvir Wheeler added seven points and a team-high six assists.
Jermaine Jackson Jr. led Central Michigan with 11 points and five assists. Cameron Healy made a trio of 3-pointers for the Chippewas.
Kentucky controlled the boards 47-30 and scored 23 points off 15 Central Michigan turnovers. The Wildcats have won six straight after an opening-night loss to Duke. The Chippewas (1-5), who led for just 18 seconds, have lost three straight.
The Wildcats began to take control less than four minutes into the game. They reeled off 16 unanswered points to take a 25-5 lead.
Tshiebwe got it going with a layup and a dunk. Wheeler had seven points during that span, in which Kentucky scored nine points off turnovers.
Harrison Henderson hit a jumper midway through the half to cut the Chippewas' deficit to 27-12. The Wildcats then extended their advantage to 31 points with an 18-2 outburst.
Brooks started it off with a three-point play. Tshiebwe then went on a personal 7-0 run, followed by two Bryce Hopkins baskets. A couple of Daimion Collins free throws finished it off.
Kentucky's lead was 51-25 at the break. Tshiebwe had 13 points and eight rebounds during the half and Washington was also in double figures with 10. The Chippewas didn't have anyone with more than six points. Kentucky scored 11 fast-break points with the aid of eight Central Michigan turnovers.
Kentucky also scored the first four points of the second half, two apiece from Washington and Tshiebwe.
--Field Level Media
Central Michigan | Kentucky | |
Jermaine Jackson Jr. 11 | Scoring | Oscar Tshiebwe 20 |
Jermaine Jackson Jr. 5 | Assists | Sahvir Wheeler 6 |
Ralph Bissainthe 6 | Rebounds | Oscar Tshiebwe 16 |
Miroslav Stafl 2 | Free Throws Made | Oscar Tshiebwe 8 |
Harrison Henderson 1 | Steals | Oscar Tshiebwe 3 |
Brian Taylor 1 | Blocks | Oscar Tshiebwe 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Central Michigan | 57 | 41.1 | 7-16 | 4-7 | 11 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
Kentucky | 85 | 43.1 | 7-26 | 16-24 | 16 | 44 | 3 | 9 | 6 |