CATS get back in Win Column in 88–46 Rout
LEXINGTON – November 23, 2025 – Michael Willis
Kentucky rolled past the Loyola Greyhounds in a lopsided 88–46 win Thursday night at Rupp Arena. After Tuesday’s disappointing loss to Michigan State, fans were eager to see what adjustments head coach Mark Pope would make. The biggest changes came in the starting lineup: Malachi Moreno replaced Brandon Garrison, and with Denzel Aberdeen sidelined by injury, Kam Williams earned his first start as a Wildcat.
The impact was immediate. Kentucky opened the game with renewed focus and energy, jumping out to a 12–3 lead sparked by Otega Oweh, who scored six of the Wildcats’ first eight points. Colin Chandler caught fire soon after, knocking down back-to-back threes on his way to eight quick points and pushing the lead to 20–8 by the first media timeout.
Kentucky’s dominance only grew. The Cats closed the half on a commanding 20–2 run, heading to the locker room with a comfortable 50–20 advantage.
Defensive improvement was the story of the first half. Kentucky held Loyola to just 27% shooting, forced 11 turnovers, and recorded eight steals and three blocks. Chandler led the Wildcats at the break with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Williams also made his presence felt, grabbing a team-high five rebounds and drilling a buzzer-beater three to end the half.
The second half started shakier. After committing only two turnovers before halftime, the Cats coughed up the ball three times in the first two minutes and missed their first three shot attempts. But the slow start was quickly erased by three straight dunks that reignited Kentucky’s momentum. While the offense wasn’t as sharp as it had been earlier, the Wildcats still expanded their 30-point halftime lead to 48 with under five minutes remaining. Pope emptied the bench with two minutes left, and Kentucky cruised to the 42-point victory.
Williams and Chandler shared team-high scoring honors with 13 points apiece, though Williams arguably earned player of the game recognition with his 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Moreno also impressed in his first career start, finishing with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
The shake-up in the starting lineup appears to have injected much-needed defensive intensity and rebounding effort. Kentucky now turns its attention to Tennessee Tech on November 26 before a marquee matchup against North Carolina. If tonight’s performance is any indication, the Wildcats may be finding their much-needed top tier win against the Tar Heels.
