LEXINGTON – January 24, 2026 – Michael Willis
The Wildcats came away with a win against the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, but not without keeping things interesting throughout the game. With a snowstorm approaching, the tipoff was moved to 11 a.m. in hopes of beating the weather. That early start did not stop Big Blue Nation from filling Rupp Arena and cheering Kentucky to a 72–63 victory.
Both teams struggled out of the gate. Perhaps the early start played a role, as each team was shooting under 20 percent at the first media timeout. Things looked bleak for the Wildcats when the foul that sent the game to that timeout was Otega Oweh’s second, forcing him to the bench for nearly six minutes.
Oweh’s absence was evident, as Kentucky’s offense became stagnant. Ole Miss took a 15–11 lead, prompting Mark Pope to reinsert Oweh earlier than planned. However, it was not Oweh who sparked the Wildcats, but Jasper Johnson. Johnson scored eight straight points to retake the lead, 19–15. Kentucky maintained control for the rest of the half and even stretched the advantage to 10 points. The Rebels closed the gap late, aided by two questionable calls, knocking down four free throws to cut the lead to 29–23 at halftime.
Ole Miss opened the second half by scoring the first two baskets, trimming the deficit to four. Kentucky was unable to pull away and found itself tied at 39 with 13:30 remaining. The Wildcats maintained a slim lead for most of the half but could not create separation. Kentucky led 63–60 with 1:02 left when Collin Chandler drilled a deep three-pointer to push the advantage to six with 47.7 seconds remaining. Ole Miss answered with one final three, but the Cats sealed the game at the free-throw line to secure the 72–63 win.
Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 23 points. Most importantly, he converted 10 of his 13 free-throw attempts, which proved crucial down the stretch. Limited by foul trouble in the first half, Oweh scored just three points before halftime but erupted for 20 points in the second half.
Collin Chandler and Jasper Johnson also played pivotal roles in the victory. Johnson’s eight first-half points gave Kentucky the breathing room it needed, and he finished with 11 points. Chandler’s late three-pointer sealed the win, and he added 12 points and seven rebounds.
For the second straight game, Kentucky proved it can play a full 40 minutes without digging itself an early hole. The Wildcats led for more than 29 minutes and trailed for just 4.5 minutes. While it wasn’t the most impressive performance, it may be the type of gritty effort this team needs to continue winning.
Kentucky travels to Nashville on Tuesday night to face No. 15 Vanderbilt in a 9:00 p.m. tipoff. The Commodores will present a tough matchup, and the Wildcats will need another complete effort to come away with a road win.