For a while, it looked like Kentucky might let this one slip away. After leading by nine at halftime, the Wildcats had to weather a relentless Tennessee rally in the second half. But when it mattered most, big plays from Koby Brea, Otega Oweh, and Trent Noah sealed a hard-fought 75-64 victory in Rupp Arena. Read on to see how Kentucky's two in-state Freshman helped seal the deal by going off with 19 points total.
Tennessee's Hot Start Puts Kentucky on the Ropes
The second half began with the Volunteers hitting 7 of their first 8 shots, quickly cutting into Kentucky’s lead. The Wildcats managed to hold them off for the first few minutes, but Tennessee kept pushing, eventually trimming the lead to just three points (50-47) with 12 minutes to play.
The Vols tied things up with nine minutes left after Lamont Butler went down with an injury, a concerning moment for Kentucky fans. Oweh briefly stopped the bleeding by earning a trip to the free-throw line, where he took Kentucky’s third and fourth free throws of the game—a testament to Tennessee’s disciplined defense (and the referees).
Wildcats Answer in Crunch Time
With the game hanging in the balance, Kentucky needed someone to step up. But first, they had to overcome their own mistakes. Two straight offensive rebounds given up after outstanding defensive possessions led to a Zakai Zeigler layup, putting Tennessee ahead.
Brea had the answer. The sharpshooter drilled a three-pointer to push Kentucky back in front, 61-60, with under four minutes left. Then, Amari Williams slipped a screen, got fouled, and had a chance at a three-point play—but missed the free throw, keeping it a 63-60 game.
The game swung in Kentucky’s favor in the final two minutes. Noah calmly sank two clutch free throws (his first FT attempts of the season), but the Vols quickly responded with a Lanier dunk. Once again, Brea stepped up, burying a step-back three to extend the lead to 68-62 with 1:20 left. Then, in one of the night’s biggest highlights, Brea lobbed a no-look alley-oop to Oweh, sending Rupp Arena into a frenzy and effectively sealing the deal.
Tennessee had no answer after that. Oweh hit 3-of-4 free throws, Andrew Carr added two more, and Kentucky stretched the lead to double digits as Tennessee ran out of steam. The Volunteers misfired late, allowing the Wildcats to close out a 75-64 victory.
Key Stats from the Game
- Shooting: Kentucky 50.0% FG, 50.0% from three (12-24), Tennessee 42.6% FG, 16.7% from three (3-18)
- Rebounding: Tennessee won the boards (33-26), including 8 offensive rebounds
- Turnovers: Kentucky 8, Tennessee 9
- Fast Break Points: Kentucky 15, Tennessee 6
- Points Off Turnovers: Kentucky 12, Tennessee 8
Brea and Oweh Deliver in the Clutch
Koby Brea finished with 11 points on three made threes, none bigger than his step-back dagger late in the game. Oweh matched his 13-point first-half performance to end with 13 total, playing a key role in closing out the win. Noah added 11 points off the bench, shooting an efficient 3-4 from deep.
On the other side, Zakai Zeigler led Tennessee with 17 points, while Igor Milicic Jr. had a 16-point, 9-rebound performance. But the Vols’ struggles from three-point range (3-18, 16.7%) proved costly.
Looking Ahead: Butler’s Health a Concern
The win was big, but the status of Lamont Butler is something to monitor moving forward. His injury came at a pivotal moment when Tennessee tied the game, and Kentucky will hope it's just precautionary that he stayed out.
For now, though, the Wildcats can breathe a sigh of relief—they battled through adversity, made big plays late, and protected home court against a top 5 team in the country.