LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – Free throws win ball games. Free throws can also cost you when March rolls around. Kentucky struggled from the charity stripe while Vanderbilt hit 18 of their 20 from the line as they beat the Wildcats for the second time in nine days, 80-73.
Kentucky (21-11) jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first half, but Vanderbilt had an answer for every punch. Ezra Manjon, a nine point per game scorer on the season, dropped 23 points on Kentucky. Tyrin Lawrence and Jordan Wright both scored 18 apiece.
Kentucky got 22 points from Antonio Reeves, while Jacob Toppin went for 21 points and 11 rebounds. Oscar Tshiebwe finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds. The stat that looms in the Kentucky locker room after the game is the missed opportunities at the line.
“We’ve got to make free throws,” Toppin said in the locker room post game.
The team will rest and await their NCAA Tournament destination on Selection Sunday, March 12th. “I still believe this team can make a deep run,” John Calipari said after the game.
