Fredrick scores 17, No. 4 Kentucky beats South Carolina St
Nov 17, 2022, 4:43 AM | Updated: 7:54 pm
Kentucky's CJ Fredrick (1) shoots between South Carolina State's Dallas James, left, and Justin Wilson (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
(AP Photo/James Crisp)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — CJ Fredrick scored 17 points to lead No. 4 Kentucky to a 106-63 win over South Carolina State on Thursday night.
The Wildcats (3-1) easily bounced back from an 86-77 double-overtime loss to unranked Michigan State two nights earlier in the Champions Classic.
Fredrick scored Kentucky’s first six points and made three of the team’s 10 3-pointers. Against the Spartans, he finished with five points and made one 3.
“I have a short mind,” Fredrick said. “I flushed it because I knew we had a game in 48 hours. We just wanted to get back to the way that we play — run up and down and getting stops.”
Chris Livingston scored 13 points, while Lance Ware and Cason Wallace had 12 points each. Antonio Reeves added 11 points for Kentucky, which got 51 points from its bench.
“I think it was very important (to get a win), just for the team’s morale. We needed to get back, especially after a disappointing loss like that. And we owed it to the fans also, so I think it was really good,” Livingston said.
Kentucky senior forward Oscar Tshiebwe, last season’s consensus national player of the year, came off the bench for the second straight game and finished with six points and seven rebounds, ending his streak of 17 straight double-doubles dating to last season. Tshiebwe missed the first games of the season while recovering from minor knee surgery.
Kentucky coach John Calipari wanted Tshiebwe to get into a flow with his teammates.
“We weren’t going to play him today,” Calipari said. “The reason we played him — it’s a different game for the rest of our players when he’s in (the game). … I had him out there because we need to be a team and play together. What about that makes him unselfish? Stats. I left it up to him.”
Senior guard Sahvir Wheeler made his first start of the season for Kentucky and finished with six points and 10 assists. He missed the season opener because of a knee injury but has played in the past two games.
“We’re passing the ball to each other,” Calipari said. “It was a good win.”
Rakeim Gary led South Carolina State with 13 points.
“When you’re playing Kentucky at home, from coming off a loss, you know they’re going to be focused,” Bulldogs coach Erik Martin said. “The goal is to get through this and make sure our spirits are still up and we’re still a team. Losses can rip you apart but hopefully being on the road a lot, my team bonds.”
BIG PICTURE
South Carolina State: The Bulldogs will play the remainder of their seven games in November on the road, including a visit to Western Kentucky on Nov. 26. South Carolina State also dropped its opener to a Southeastern Conference opponent, 80-77 at South Carolina in the season opener for both teams.
Kentucky: The Wildcats needed a tuneup before traveling to Spokane, Washington, to face No. 2 Gonzaga this weekend. Kentucky then plays two straight home games before flying to London to face Michigan on Dec. 4. Tshiebwe is close to returning to the starting lineup.
UP NEXT
South Carolina State: At North Florida on Saturday.
Kentucky: At No. 2 Gonzaga on Sunday.
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