With a thunderous mix of cheers and boos, fans of No. 12 Kentucky greeted former Wildcats coach John Calipari in his first game at Rupp Arena since taking over as the head coach at Arkansas.
Calipari walked away a winner as former Kentucky player Adou Thiero collected 21 points and eight rebounds in the Razorbacks’ 89-79 win in Lexington, Ky.
Johnell Davis scored 18 points and former Wildcat D.J. Wagner poured in all 17 of his points in the second half and finished with eight assists. Zvonimir Ivisic hit four triples on his way to scoring 14 points.
Former Kentucky recruit Karter Knox added 10 points as the Razorbacks (13-8, 2-6 SEC) delivered Calipari a satisfying win over the team he coached for the previous 15 seasons.
“They were fearless. Hard game to win in this building. I’ve been here,” said Calipari, who guided Kentucky to a national championship, four Final Four appearances and a 410-123 record.
Amari Williams collected 22 points and 11 rebounds and Jaxson Robinson added 20 points for the Wildcats (15-6, 4-4), who lost for the third time in their last four games.
Ansley Almonor scored 12 points for Kentucky, which sizzled in the intense opening minutes, making its first six shots and bolting to an 18-12 lead.
But Arkansas continually answered. Down 30-25 in the first half, the Razorbacks went on a nine-point spree, triggered by a pair of baskets by Thiero and finished by a 3-pointer by Davis as Arkansas took a 34-30 lead.
After Kentucky regained the lead, 3-pointers by Trevon Brazile and Knox gave Arkansas a 46-45 lead at the break. From there, the Razorbacks never trailed.
Early in the second half, Wagner drained a 3-pointer and followed with a crafty reverse layup. When Ivisic nailed a triple, it culminated an eight-point run and expanded the Razorbacks’ lead to 58-47.
After that, every run the Wildcats made was answered by clutch work at the offensive end by Thiero and Wagner.
In a year in which the Razorbacks have struggled, they shot 55.2 percent from the floor and made 13 of 25 shots (52 percent) from 3-point range.
– Field Level Media
