Written by: Ainsley Saurers
No.17 Kentucky traveled and won on Wednesday against Oklahoma 83-82 in Oklahoma. The
former Sooner, Otega Oweh, scored a new career-high of 28 points.
Mark Pope provided a starting line up of Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, Oweh, and returning from
injury, Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler.
Oklahoma started things off scoring the first points of the game, and Kentucky struggled to
counter, unable to get the ball through the hoop. Carr and Robinson went to work putting some
points on the board for the Cats, and Brandon Garrison accompanied them with a layup of his
own.
Oweh scored a putback and Butler threw another basket that was followed by some free throws
to cap off an 8-0 run. Oklahoma responded with a series of offensive surges, keeping up with
Kentucky. Koby Brea and Williams hit a few valuable baskets, but Oklahoma kept drilling.
Garrison landed a three to put the score at 35-29, but the Sooners caught up tying the game
35-35.
Williams landed a free throw to push the Cats in the lead, but Oklahoma took the lead from the
Cats quickly, scoring the next four baskets. Travis Perry and Brea found the hoop with some of
the final points of the first half, giving Kentucky the lead going into halftime, 43-41.
The very back-and-forth second half began with a pair of free throws from Carr. The teams
exchanged threes, but Kentucky remained in the lead with some valuable baskets from Oweh
and Garrison. Oklahoma did not go away, going on an 8-2 run to get within one.
Williams pushed the Cats further in the lead when his hands met the rim for a dunk, but it wasn’t
long till Oklahoma tied it up, 60-60. Oweh drilled a three, but the Sooners countered it scoring
the next eight points and taking the lead 68-63 to take the lead over the Cats with less than ten
minutes left on the game clock.
Kentucky kept fighting, thanks to some relentless scoring from Oweh. Oweh met the Sooners,
tying up the game and even scored a breakaway dunk. With only a little under three minutes left
of the game, Oweh tossed some free throws giving Kentucky the lead. However, the Sooners
drilled a three to take the lead back.
With 48 seconds left Williams gave Oweh the ball and he put it through the hoop. The Sooners
took the lead again after landing some free throws, but Oweh answered, scoring a layup. The
Sooners threw the ball in the air hoping it would be a buzzer victory, but Oweh made the block,
putting the game away from Kentucky, 83-82.
Kentucky will be returning to Rupp on Saturday to host the No.1 Auburn Tigers. Tipoff will be at
1 p.m. EST
Photo: Lexington Herald Leader
