The Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Basketball team defeated the Colgate Raiders 78-67 in a game nobody will remember. Kentucky jumped out to a massive lead before Colgate clawed back throughout the game. In the second half, Colgate even claimed a lead that kept Rupp Arena silent for a spurt. Fortunately, Kentucky runs a system that can put up points in a hurry and Kentucky pulled away through a couple quick spurts.
The Cats started the game on a 12-0 run through the first TV timeout, and got the lead to seventeen before Colgate got their first points on the board. From here it seemed like the Cats put on cruise control for the rest of the game. For a team that you would not expect to allow a sub-par opponent to mount a comeback, the fluidity disappeared, and the game became less team-oriented for Kentucky. This allowed Colgate to get hot and bring the game all the way back to a 41-40 lead from the Raiders. Kentucky turned it on finishing with a 31-10 run over thirteen second half minutes. The defensive intensity increased and led Kentucky to a win in a game they did not shoot well.
Kobe Brea led the Cats with seventeen points on 5-8 from the three-point line. Amari Williams and Otega Oweh found easy success against the Colgate defense as they accrued fifteen points each with twenty-four of those total points coming in the paint. Jaxson Robinson and Andrew Carr both scored eleven points to finish off the double-digit scorers for the Wildcats. Carr added on ten rebounds to finish the double-double, but he was closely trailed by Williams’ eight boards.
Kentucky shot poorly again, 32.3% from three and 42.9% from the field, but found a way to create enough points to win the game. The Cats have found themselves in the middle of a four-game shooting slump, but BBN needs them to snap out of it this weekend against the Louisville Cardinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 PM this Saturday in Rupp Arena as Mark Pope goes for this first win against Kentucky’s in-state rival.
Photo Credits to UK Athletics
