Liveblog: Kentucky 78, UNC Greensboro 61
In its toughest test since the season opener against Duke, Kentucky plays host to UNC Greensboro at 1 p.m. Saturday. ESPN2 has the telecast.
We will be reporting live from Rupp Arena with updates and analysis. Also follow us on Twitter @johnclayiv, @jerrytipton, @benrobertshl, @markcstory, @kentuckysports.
There is a dedicated Twitter feed below the updates.
Final: Kentucky 78, UNC Greensboro 61
We’ll stream Calipari press conference on Kentucky.com Facebook page.
Kentucky up 64-57 with 5:39 left
Cats are on a 14-2 run. Here’s the box.
Cats clinging to 58-57 lead with 7:25 left
Reid Travis is the UK star of the day. The senior forward has 22 points. No other UK player is in double figures. Kentucky is shooting 42.9 percent for the game. The visiting Spartans are shooting 39.3.
Kentucky trails 55-53 with 11:48 left
Reid Travis leads UK with 20 points. Calipari and Kentucky fans not happy with officials.
Video board birthday tribute to Joe B. Hall
At 15:05 TV timeout in second half, former players wished Joe B. Hall a Happy 90th Birthday on the video board. Joe is in attendance today. UNC Greensboro has a 47-45 lead on Kentucky.
Keldon Johnson starts second half
He was taken to locker room in first half with apparent ankle injury, but is starting second half.
Halftime: UNC Greensboro 40, Kentucky 37
Francis Alonso, the 6-foot-3 senior guard from Spain, scored 19 points in the first half for the Spartans. Alonso scored 11 points inside the game’s first four minutes. Alonso is 5-of-6 from the floor, including a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range. He’s 4-of-5 from the foul line. Greensboro shot 45.2 percent in the first half. The visitors were 6-of-8 from three-point range.
Kentucky won the boards the first half 20-14, and had a 22-16 advantage on points in the paint. But UK committed nine turnovers, which helped lead to the Spartans’ halftime lead. Points off turnovers: Greensboro 10, UK 4. Reid Travis led Kentucky with 10 points in the first half.
Keldon Johnson taken to locker room with 3:17 left
The UK freshman came down awkwardly and was in obvious pain. He was taken to the locker room.
Kentucky up 31-29 with 3:59 left in first half
Cats are 12-of-24 from the floor for 50 percent. Reid Travis leads way with 10 points. John Calipari has not seemed happy the entire game -- not with his assistants, the officials or his players.
Kentucky up 25-22 with 7:35 left in the first half
Francis Alonso has 16 points for the visiting Spartans. He scored 31 points last year at Wake Forest. And the guard from Spain came into today averaging 19 points per game. Kentucky’s lead has much to do with boardwork. Cats are up 14-6 on the glass.
This story was originally published December 1, 2018 at 9:57 AM.