Kentucky Moves to 2-0 on the Season
LEXINGTON – November 7, 2025 – Michael Willis
It was a dominant performance for the Wildcats on Friday night as they cruised past Valparaiso, 107–59. The 48-point victory was impressive in its own right, but the biggest storyline was the return of freshman guard Jaland Lowe, who made his long-awaited debut in a Kentucky uniform. Lowe finished with six points and five assists, but most importantly, he looked healthy and confident, showing no signs of being limited by his previous injury.
The game couldn’t have started much better for Kentucky. The Wildcats jumped out to a 13–3 lead in the first three minutes, making their first six field goal attempts. Their defense was just as sharp, holding Valpo to 1-for-7 shooting early on. After a 10–0 run, Kentucky extended the lead to 30–8, essentially putting the game out of reach before the halfway mark of the first half. By the break, the Wildcats were up 58–26, dominating on both ends of the floor.
Nine different Wildcats scored in the opening half, led by Denzel Aberdeen, who had 10 points while going a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line. Freshman big man Malachi Moreno impressed as well, grabbing five rebounds and scoring six points, including two thunderous alley-oop dunks.
Kentucky opened the second half with a 9–2 run, though the pace slowed considerably due to a barrage of fouls — eight in the first five minutes. Despite the stoppages, the Wildcats continued to build their lead, coasting to a 107–59 win.
Six Wildcats scored in double figures. Malachi Moreno led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, posting a double-double. Colin Chandler added 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three, along with five rebounds and four assists.
After struggling early in their previous outing against Nicholls, Kentucky showed much better focus and energy from start to finish. Having their talented point guard back certainly helped, but even when Lowe was off the floor, the team maintained composure and intensity.
Shooting was much improved, as Kentucky hit 54% of its shots from the field, 39% (11-of-28) from three-point range, and 84% (15-of-19) from the free-throw line.
Looking ahead, Trent Noah’s status remains uncertain for the Wildcats’ next game — a highly anticipated showdown with in-state rival Louisville. His shooting will be crucial if Kentucky hopes to keep rolling. Tip-off is set for Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. in Louisville.
