With their backs against the proverbial wall, the Kentucky Wildcats stepped up in a big way on Wednesday night. It took all 40 minutes to determine the outcome, but that is what you would expect against a Quadrant 1 opponent in a hostile road atmosphere. In the end, the ‘Cats defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 71-68 to move to 17-9 overall, 8-5 in the Southeastern Conference. The loss dropped Mississippi State to 17-9 overall and 5-8 in the league.
It was a balanced effort that earned Kentucky the road win in Starkville. Oscar Tshiebwe bounced back with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.