Kentucky Downs Vandy 82-61
LEXINGTON – February 19, 2025 – Brendon D. Miller
The CATS put in a spirited effort on Wednesday Night to move back over .500 in the SEC.
Otega Oweh led the CATS with 20 points, extending his streak to the 26th consecutive game in which he has scored in double figures, and it was the eighth time that he has scored at least 20 points. Amari Williams added 17 point and six rebounds. Koby Brea (12) and Andrew Carr (11), were also in double-figures on the night.
The return to better health by Carr and his performance was an energizing for the CATS. Carr’s back issues have (along with other injuries to Lamont Butler, Kerr Kriisa, and Jaxson Robinson) have been a factor in the continuity of the CATS on both sides of the ball.
FIRST HALF
Brea got the scoring started with a three, giving the Cats an early lead. A Carr layup made it 5-0 before Vandy scored five in a row to tie the game. An Oweh layup and free throw made it 8-5. After a Commodores’ basket, Williams and Oweh combined to make four consecutive free throws, giving UK a 12-7 lead.
After a Vandy three got the ‘Dores within two, Collin Chandler answered with a three of his own and UK led 15-10. After Vandy scored three straight points to cut the UK lead to two, Brea hit another three, extending the advantage to 18-13. Vandy added a basket before Ansley Almonor hit a three to stretch the UK lead to 21-15.
Vanderbilt responded with a 6-2 run to get within two, 23-21 before Williams hit two free throws and Oweh hit an elbow jumper to extend the lead to 27-21. The teams would trade threes, including a corner triple from Almonor, and the Cats led 30-24. However, the ‘Dores scoreS the next seven points and took a 31-30 lead.
Kentucky then got an Oweh layup and two Chandler free throws to lead 34-31 before Vandy scored four in a row, grabbing the lead back, 35-34. The Cats would take the lead right back on two Oweh free throws and a Williams basket, but the Commodores tied it on a three with 1:16 left in the first half.
A Williams dunk and free throw gave UK a 41-38 lead before Vandy scored at the buzzer. Still, the Cats took a 41-40 lead into the break. Oweh led the Cats with 11 first-half points.
SECOND HALF
Kentucky got off to a hot start in the second half, scoring the first six points on baskets by Carr, Williams and Oweh. In the process, UK extended the lead to 47-40. After the ‘Dores scored four in a row, Williams scored two baskets in a row and the Cats led 51-44. A Carr bucket in the lane made it 53-44. And when Carr hit a three from the corner, it capped a 9-0 run and the Kentucky lead was 56-44 with 12:55 remaining.
Vandy scored to cut the UK lead to 10 before Brea hit his third three-pointer of the night, giving UK a 59-46 advantage. After the ‘Dores scored three in a row, Oweh made a layup, then a three and the Cats led 64-49 with 8:42 to play. A Carr dunk extended the UK lead to 66-49.
The Commodores scored four consecutive points to cut the UK lead to 66-54 before Travis Perry drilled a three, and a Williams layup made it 71-54.
The CATS were able to finish this game unlike at Texas on Saturday.
NEXT
The CATS travel to Tuscaloosa on Saturday to take on No. 4 Alabama with a 6:00 PM tip.
