CATS up the Defense, Brea, Oweh and Butler in Double Figures to Push Past Illini
MILWAUKEE – March 23, 2025 – Evan Miller
Koby Brea tied his career high with 23 points, as the CATS bested sixth-seeded Illinois 84-75 in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Milwaukee on Sunday evening. Brea made 10 of 16 from the floor, including three of eight from behind the arc on his way to his 23 points. Brea also added six rebounds in the game.
The CATS also got double-figure performances from Otega Oweh (15) and Lamont Butler (14). Amari Williams had eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, despite having trouble again finishing around the rim.
The CATS really upped the defensive intensity and played one of its best defensive games of the year, forcing 14 turnovers and turning those into 26 points. Kentucky had 14 steals and blocked three shots in the win.
Early, Brea put the CATS on the board first on a layup and then got the second basket to make it 4-2 but Illinois scored the next three to lead by one. An Oweh layup gave UK the lead back, and then Collin Chandler, continuing his strong performances, hit a three, UK led 9-5.
A Williams putback and a Brea bucket made it 13-5 and forced an Illinois timeout. An Illinois bucket ended the 9-0 run and the Illini added a three to get within three. Kentucky answered with a three from Butler and a Williams bucket to make it 18-10.
After an Illinois three, Butler drove to the basket and scored, giving the Cats a 20-13 advantage. A Brea three extended the lead to 10 points and a Trent Noah layup made it 25-13. The Illini scored six in a row to make it 25-19 and UK took a timeout. A Brandon Garrison putback extended the lead to 27-19 but the Illini scored four in a row to get within four. A Butler three gave UK a 30-23 lead, but Illinois scored to get within five. Butler then made two free throws to give the CATS a 32-25 advantage, but Illinois scored the next four to get within three.
An Ansley Almonor three gave the Cats a 35-29 lead but Illinois answered with a three of its own. Two Noah free throws with one second left made it 37-32, which would be the halftime score. Butler led the Cats with 10 points in the first half.
The second half began with a 10-0 Kentucky run, stretching the lead to 47-32. After an Illinois bucket, Williams stole the ball and raced to the other end for a dunk that made it 49-34. After the Illini scored, Oweh hit a jumper in the lane and it was 51-36 Cats. Illinois hit a three, but a Williams dunk gave UK a 53-39 advantage.
An Oweh bucket made it 55-39 before the Illini converted a three-point play to get within 13. Brea scored again to give the Cats a 57-42 lead, but Illinois scored six in a row to get within nine. A Chandler three made it 60-48 Cats but the Illini hit a three of their own to get within nine.
Brea then caught fire for the Cats. He hit a three, then a two, then another three, completing an 8-2 run to make it 68-53 Cats with 10:14 remaining. After an Illinois free throw, Brea scored again and UK led 70-54. Illinois scored the next three before Oweh scored to give UK a 72-57 advantage. Illinois would score the next five to get within 10.
A Garrison layup gave UK a 74-62 lead with 4:37 remaining but Illinois scored the next six to get within six, 74-68, with 1:36 remaining.
Carr made a layup to extend the lead to eight with 1:13 to play. Butler made two free throws with 1:01 to play to make it 78-68. Illinois would make one free throw before Almonor made a pair of charity tosses to give the Cats an 80-69 lead with 37.8 seconds left.
Kentucky advances to the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis on Friday, where the Cats will meet Tennessee for the third time this season. The tip time and television network were not available at the time of this release.
