Kentucky basketball changed its starting lineup again, this time inserting Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance fresh off a loss to Alabama. Kentucky was a double-digit favorite, but it did not look like it for most of the night.
The first half was mainly a slop fest. Both teams turned it over, and neither team could find much of a rhythm. And it was Missouri who was leading for most of it. On a play that may go down as a turning point in the entire Kentucky season, Mark Pope saw Jayden Quaintance get mauled down low only for Kentucky to get called for a hand check immediately after. Pope lost his mind on the sideline, and it looked like Tubby Smith was back on the bench as Pope unleashed a stomp that would make Tubby proud. The refs gave him a well-deserved and well-needed tech. Still, Kentucky found itself down 4 with just a couple of seconds left.
Otega Oweh may have changed the season with miraculous shot
Then, Otega Oweh pulled up from nearly 80 feet away and drained a 3-point shot. That was part of an 11-0 run Kentucky used to take control of the game, beginning near the end of the first half and continuing into the second. Oweh led all scorers in the first half with 13 points. The entire team had just 6 assists in the first half, showcasing the stagnant offense that has troubled the Cats all season long. But that tech and that 3 sparked Kentucky.
The Cats looked like a different team at times during the second half. The ball moved, players found each other, and they were finally making shots. They had 10 assists heading into the under-4 timeout; they were up 8, and things were looking good. But Missouri would go on a 7-0 run and close the gap in a hurry with just 2:30 to go. Kentucky would need to really focus to win this one.
Garrison made a hook shot to give the Cats a 3-point lead, but with 1:10 to go, Missouri finished an alley-oop to make it 68-67, forcing Mark Pope to call a timeout.
Kentucky did win the rebound battle, but Missouri was not great on the boards, and the margin was not as big as it should have been.
The timeout didn't help. Otega Oweh fumbled the ball out of bounds, giving Missouri a chance to take the lead. They converted. And again, the pressure got to Kentucky. Brandon Garrison threw a bad pass to Kam Williams that was never going to work. Now the Cats have to foul and hope Missouri misses free throws.
Kentucky put on the pressure, and it worked. Collin Chandler gets a huge steal and gives Oweh a chance to play hero. He missed another layup, something that has haunted Kentucky all season. They finish 6-13 on layups in the game.
It wasn't over. Missouri still had to make pressure-filled free throws, but they missed the front of the one-and-one. Kentucky gave up a rebound as Moreno leaves his man and lets him tap it back out. This time, Missouri converts the front end and the 2nd.
Mark Pope calls another timeout with 9.8 to go. Whatever he called didn't work out. Jaland Lowe dribbled it around and just pulled up and flung it at the rim with 2.4 to go. It wasn't close. Missouri sinks 2 free throws.
Kentucky starts the season 0-2 in the SEC for the first time since 2005. They lost their SEC home opener for the first time since 2013, after having an 8-point lead with just over 4 minutes to go.
Mark Pope has some questions to answer. Fans boo him off the floor, as Missouri gets its first-ever win in Rupp Arena. 73-68.