Written by: Ainsley Saurers
No.12 Kentucky Mens Basketball team traveled to Knoxville Tuesday to play No.8 University of
Tennessee Volunteers which resulted in a big win for the Cats 78-73.
Koby Brea led the way scoring the most points for the Cats with a total of 18, Jaxson Robinson
right behind him with 17.
Kentucky was hungry after a pair of losses against Vanderbilt and Alabama. The starting lineup
for Kentucky was Brea, Robinson, Otega Oweh, Ansley Almonor, and Amari Williams.
Kentucky came off to a quick start scoring the first points of the game thanks to a three from
Brea, the Vols then returned the favor with a three of their own. Robinson landed a pair of threes
pushing the Cats back into the lead. Almonor sank a three of his own assisting in extending the
lead 12-4 going into the first timeout.
Coming out of the timeout the Vols gained some footing scoring the next three points, only
stopped by a free throw from Oweh. Oweh didn’t stop there, responding to a Tennessee basket
with a layup. The Vols scored the next two points creeping up on the Cats, 15-13.
Almonor and Robsinon landed a three each putting some more space between them.
Tennessee finally landed a three of their own and Robinson responded with a jumper keeping
the Cats in the lead, 23-16. The Vols landed some free throws, and Almonor hit another three,
not letting them get too close, 26-20.
Tennessee then managed a layup and Brandon Garrison, now on the court, hands met the rim
with a dunk. Brea wanted to get in on the dunk action, so he managed a dunk of his own.
Kentucky slipped up and the Vols scored the last 11 points taking the lead, 33-30.
A bucket from Bea followed by a dunk from Oweh gave the lead back to the Cats coming into
the beginning of the second half. Williams landed a free throw, but the Vols came back to tie the
game, 35-35. Almonor slung another three inching the Cats back in the lead, 38-35.
Brea, racking up more points for himself, landed another three pushing the Cats further into the
lead. Tennessee got close, but a Williams bucket followed by a Robinson three extending the
lead and pushing the Vols into a timeout.
Coming out of the timeout the Vols managed to score, but Kentucky reacted with another basket
from Robinson and Trent Noah’s first three of the game.
Tennessee went on a streak scoring the next five points but Oweh stopped them once more with
another free throw. Williams then tapped the ball into the net settling the score, 60-53.
The Vols landed a three, but Noah managed a layup to accompany his three making the score
64-56. Brea landed another free throw and it was followed up by a basket from the Vols, but
Oweh was hungry for another dunk and delivered, the Cats still in the lead with a little more than
6 minutes left of the game.
The Vols made a layup, and Williams landed a basket at the line, the Cats still leading, 68-60.
Tennessee made another three and Brea landed his third three of the night. Tennessee got
close again scoring the next five points.
Brea sank two free throws, the score 73-68 Cats. Both teams entered a dry spell not scoring
any points for over two minutes, but a Vol free throw broke the spell. Robinson landed one at
the line, growing Kentucky’s lead 74-70. Tennessee got within one with only 31 seconds left
thanks to a three pointer.
Oweh landed two free throws and Tennessee threw for a three pointer in hopes to tie the game,
but it missed and it landed in the hands of Kentucky. Oweh landed another pair of free throws
right at the buzzer, securing the win for the Cats.
Kentucky will be back in action hosting old coach, John Calipari, and his new team the Arkansas
Razorbacks this Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
