Written by: Ainsley Saurers
No.8 Kentucky Men’s Basketball lost its first home game of the season this Saturday against No.4 Alabama in front of a crowd of 21,108 people.
The starting lineup for the came was Otega Oweh, Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Amari Williams, and Andrew Carr.
The Tide came out with a hot start scoring the first two of the game, but the Cats reacted with a bucket from Oweh tying them 2-2. Williams gave Kentucky the lead with a basket and Robinson pushed Kentucky further with a three.
Bama responded by going on an 11-0 run, only stopped by a layup from Butler which put the Cats close, but not close enough. The Tide scored the next five points but Koby Brea landed a three making it 18-12.
Robinson found the ball and put it through scoring the Cats another three after an Alabama basket. Alabama still in the lead, but Oweh made two free throws and Brandon Garrison scored a layup putting the Cats within three 24-21. Ansley Almonor and Garrison managed threes each, pushing Kentucky in the lead 27-26.
The Tide didn’t let the Cats get comfortable going on a 12-2 run regaining the advantage 44-40 with less than two minutes in the half. Going into the second half Alabama still led 47-45.
Starting the second half the same as the first, Bama put up the first points of the half. Kentucky responded scoring the next five points thanks to a three from Butler and a basket from Oweh pushing Kentucky back in the lead 50-49. Oweh scored another basket to put some more distance between the scores, but Alabama tied the game with a three.
Carr reacted with a layup putting the Cats back in the lead 54-52, and Garrisons met the rim with a dunk to extend that lead. The Tied scored the next four points tying the game again. Butler had a dunk of his own giving the Cats the lead again, but the Tide scored the next 10 points and regained the lead 66-58. Brea managed a bucket to get Kentucky within six, 60-66.
The Cats stole the ball and Oweh gave Kentucky a layup followed by a three from Brae to inch them closer, 67-65. Alabama reacted quickly, extending the lead 76-69, but Oweh hit a three, staying on their heels. Robinson managed to get the Cats within two, but the Tide felt the pressure and landed a three extending their lead 79-74.
Carr made a pair of free throws inching the Cats within three, and it was followed by a 7-2 run that put the game tied 81-81. The Tide reacted by scoring the next nine points securing their win.
Kentucky will travel to Nashville on Saturday January 25th to play against Vanderbilt at 3:30 E.T.
