Kentucky’s Boys’ All-Star teams had been making some progress in their annual series with Indiana in recent years, forging a split the past two years. They will need a huge upset Saturday to keep that streak alive. Indiana shot 50-percent from the field and knocked down 11 three-pointers to hand Kentucky a 97-64 setback Friday at Bellarmine University in Louisville.
Indiana was in control from the start, running out to an early 19-4 lead and only allowing Kentucky to cut the deficit to single digits once.
Kentucky shot 26-percent from the field in the first half and hit just 1-of-11 from behind the arc as they fell behind 48-26 at intermission.
University Heights Academy graduate Kyky Tandy didn’t score in the first half but bounced back to hit 3-of-6 shots in the second half and finish with eight points. The incoming Xavier freshman was 3-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 behind the arc.
Hopkinsville graduate Jamarion Sharp took advantage of his limited playing time, scoring seven points and grabbing two rebounds in five minutes of action. The John A. Logan signee added two blocked shots.
Indiana Mr. Basketball Trayce Jackson-Davis was one of three players in double figures for the Hoosier all-stars. The Indiana signee scored 16 points. Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball, Dontaie Allen, did not play as he recovers from knee surgery.
J.J. Kalakon, who is an unsigned graduate from Waggener, led Kentucky with nine points. Eleven players scored for Kentucky, but none were in double figures.
Indiana leads the all-time series with Kentucky 98-44. While Kentucky has forged a split with Indiana the past two years, they have not swept the Hoosier all-stars since 1986.
The teams will wrap up their two-game series Saturday night in Indianapolis. Both Tandy and Sharp will report to their respective colleges next week as they prepare for the next basketball chapter in their lives.
