This had all the makings of a trap game. Coming off an emotional win at Arkansas and with a massive showdown against Tennessee looming on Saturday, Kentucky could have easily sleepwalked through this one. Instead, they punched the clock.
It wasn't wire-to-wire dominance, but when Mark Pope needed a response, his team delivered.
Kentucky and Oklahoma traded blows early, with the Sooners making tough twos to hang around. When Nijel Pack hit a three to tie the game at 28 with six minutes left in the first half, things got tense inside Rupp Arena.
Then, the Cats woke up. Kentucky closed the half on a suffocating 14-4 run, holding the Sooners without a field goal for the final 5:07. The burst changed the entire complexion of the night, sending UK into the locker room up 43-32.
Kentucky suffered from the second half scaries
The lead ballooned to 19 at one point in the second half, and Rupp Arena started to relax. Maybe a little too much. With just over four minutes to play, the Sooners sparked a desperate 8-0 run, cutting the massive lead down to just 8 points. The energy shifted. The "here we go again" murmurs started.
Mark Pope didn't panic. He called a timeout, drew up a play, and let his big man go to work.
Brandon Garrison slams the door
With all the criticism Brandon Garrison has faced this season, tonight was a welcome sight.
The big man came alive when it mattered most, anchoring the paint and finishing tough baskets around the rim to stop the bleeding.
Garrison finished with a massive double-double, 20 points and 11 rebounds, looking like the interior force this team desperately needs him to be.
He also dunked it when Kentucky didn't have to, which made Oklahoma a little upset.
The Otega revenge tour continues
And then, there was Otega Oweh. He simply loves playing his former school. Oweh was electric all night, finishing with 24 points. He has now scored 20+ points in 8 of his 10 SEC games, the most of any player in the conference. When the lights are brightest, Oweh shows up.
Next up: The denim returns
The Cats stayed focused the majority of the night against a team that desperately needed a win. Now, the fun begins.
The Tennessee Volunteers come to town Saturday night, and they aren't just bringing a rivalry; they are bringing the nostalgia. The 1996 "Denim" uniforms are officially making their comeback this weekend. Can the Cats channel that championship energy and knock off the Vols for the second time this season?
Final Score: Kentucky 94 Oklahoma 78