LEXINGTON, Ky. — Oscar Tshiebwe scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed a season-high 24 rebounds in a dominating performance that sent Kentucky to an 85-71 victory over Georgia on Tuesday night.
Tshiebwe had 23 points with 15 rebounds in the second half and the Wildcats (12-6, 3-3 SEC) rallied from an eight-point deficit to continue their win over the then No. 1. 5 Tennessee on Saturday with a victory over the Bulldogs (13-5, 3-2), who arrived having won six of their last seven games.
Cason Wallace added 17 points, Antonio Reeves had 11 and Jacob Toppin finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Terry Roberts scored 21 points and Kario Oquendo 18 for Georgia.
Tshiebwe scored Kentucky’s first eight points in the second half before CJ Fredrick hit a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats their first lead since a brief advantage with 11 minutes left in the first half. Kentucky took the lead for good midway through the second half, but didn’t hit double digits until Tshiebwe netted a dunk and two free throws for a 12-point advantage two minutes into the game. of the end.
Tshiebwe finished 12 of 20 and 13 of 18 from the line with his rebounds about even on the offensive and defensive boards. Posting his 11th double-double this season, he was the main reason the Wildcats outscored the Bulldogs 18-2 in second-chance points and went plus-13 on the boards.
After shooting just 33% in the first half trailing 42-34, the Wildcats went over 54% in the second half and scored 51 points. It was the opposite situation for Georgia, who shot 56% in the first half and only 36% in the second.
Georgia hosts Vanderbilt and Kentucky is home to Texas A&M in Saturday games.
Tshiebwe’s 37 points and 24 rebounds lead in Kentucky’s win originally appeared on NBCSports.com
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