LEXINGTON – January 7, 2025 – Michael Willis
Kentucky suffered a disappointing loss to the Missouri Tigers tonight at Rupp Arena. The 73–68 defeat drops the Cats to 0–2 in SEC play and makes the path to success this season much more difficult. Missouri was expected to be one of the easier wins on Kentucky’s conference schedule, and losing to the Tigers—especially at home—is a result that could linger for the rest of the season. Fan frustration is beginning to boil over, with much of the criticism directed toward head coach Mark Pope.
The Cats and Tigers were evenly matched through the first four minutes, heading into the first media timeout tied at 6–6. While the score remained close, Kentucky’s defense showed noticeable improvement from the previous game. Missouri eventually pulled ahead, building a 19–12 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. Although Kentucky defended well, scoring was a major issue, as the Cats shot just 33 percent from the field and 66 percent from the free-throw line.
Kentucky found a brief offensive spark and tied the game at 23, but several questionable calls went against the Cats, allowing Missouri to regain momentum and take a 33–27 lead. Late free throws by Jaland Lowe and a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Otega Oweh—launched from near the opposite free-throw line—cut the deficit to one, sending Kentucky into halftime trailing 33–32.
Oweh was the lone bright spot offensively for the Wildcats in the first 20 minutes. He finished the half with 13 points, hitting 4 of 5 shots, including two three-pointers.
Kentucky opened the second half strong, making its first three field goals to reclaim a 38–33 lead. Missouri responded with a 7–0 run to retake the advantage, but the Cats answered with back-to-back three-pointers to surge ahead 47–42.
With the score tied at 49, the game came down to execution in the final 10 minutes. The teams traded baskets until Kentucky put together a 6–0 run to take an eight-point lead. As had been the case throughout the night, Missouri quickly erased the margin with a 7–0 run of its own.
Kentucky clung to a 68–67 lead with 1:03 remaining and possession of the ball, but back-to-back turnovers proved costly, giving Missouri both the ball and the lead. Down three on the final possession, the Cats settled for a contested three-point attempt by Lowe that missed the mark. Missouri then knocked down its free throws to seal the 73–68 victory.
Oweh finished with 20 points, the only Wildcat to score in double figures. He also led Kentucky with five rebounds and tied Denzel Aberdeen for the team lead in assists with four. Oweh was the player who kept the Cats competitive throughout the night.
Kentucky will look to earn its first SEC win on Saturday night when the Wildcats host Mississippi State. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
