No. 18 Kentucky Defeated by No. 11 Gonzaga in Maui Invitational
LAHAINA,Hawaii - In a significant early-season matchup,the No. 18 University of Kentucky men’s basketball team suffered an 88-72 defeat against No.11 Gonzaga on November 20, 2023, at the Maui Invitational. The loss marks Kentucky’s first of the season, dropping their record to 4-1, while Gonzaga improves to 5-0.
This result delivers a setback to Kentucky’s aspirations for a high national seed in March and tests the team’s resilience following a promising start. The outcome impacts the Wildcats’ non-conference strength of schedule and their positioning in key polls.Kentucky will continue play in the Maui Invitational,facing either Dayton or Texas A&M on November 21,2023,seeking to rebound from this defeat.
Gonzaga controlled the game with efficient shooting and a dominant performance on the boards. The Bulldogs shot 57.4% from the field and outrebounded Kentucky 42-29.Kentucky struggled to contain Gonzaga’s offense, allowing multiple players to score in double figures.
Antonio Reeves led Kentucky with 23 points, while tre Mitchell added 16. For Gonzaga, Graham Ike scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, leading a balanced attack.
Tipoff was at 7 p.m. Eastern Time and the game was televised on the SEC Network.
