LEXINGTON – February 17, 2026 – Michael Willis
Just when Big Blue Nation felt this team was making strides in the right direction, the Cats dropped a game that should have been an easy win at Rupp Arena. The 86–78 loss is Kentucky’s second straight defeat and wipes out the momentum gained from earlier wins against tougher SEC opponents. The loss also drops the Wildcats to sixth place in the conference and 17–9 overall.
It looked like another slow start was in store after turnovers on two of the Cats’ first three possessions, but Kentucky responded by rattling off seven straight points to take an early 7–2 lead. The Wildcats maintained a slim advantage over the Bulldogs for much of the half but never found enough momentum to build a comfortable lead. With 3:23 remaining in the first half, Georgia’s Marcus Millender knocked down a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 34–31 lead. Georgia extended the advantage with another three before halftime, taking a 39–34 lead into the break.
Both teams opened the second half hot from beyond the arc. Kentucky hit three three-pointers, while Georgia connected on two. Otega Oweh led the charge for the Cats, scoring 11 of Kentucky’s first 14 points of the half. However, the strong play was short-lived, as defensive breakdowns allowed the Bulldogs to stretch their lead to 11 with 11 minutes remaining.
A 12–4 Kentucky run provided one last opportunity to get back within striking distance. The Wildcats were still down five with 2:13 left when Denzel Aberdeen was fouled on a three-point attempt. Aberdeen made two of the three free throws to cut the lead to three. On the ensuing defensive possession, Kentucky forced a shot-clock violation, but that was as close as the Cats would get. Kentucky failed to score over the final 2:13 and fell 86–78.
Oweh led all scorers with 28 points, while Mohammed Dioubate paced the Wildcats on the glass with nine rebounds in just 19 minutes of action.
With the loss, Kentucky is no longer guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament. This was arguably the easiest remaining game on the schedule, yet the Cats never truly felt in contention during the second half. Kentucky now faces two road games before returning home to play Vanderbilt, which dominated the Wildcats in their previous meeting
The Cats will look to bounce back on Saturday when they take the court against Auburn in hopes of redeeming this disappointing performance.
