Connect with us

UK Basketball

Mark Pope Loses First Home Game to Alabama 102-97

Photo: Brendon Miller - Bluegrass Sports Nation

Lexington, Ky – January 18, 2025 – Michael Willis

After winning the last five top 15 match-ups, the Cats lost earlier today 102-97 to Alabama. Today’s loss was the first home loss for head coach Mark Pope and makes the Wildcat’s record 14-4 overall and 3-2 in conference games. Despite the loss Kentucky played fairly well, but just couldn’t get the final push at the end of the game.

Kentucky jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, but an 11-0 run by Alabama put the Crimson Tide in the lead13-7 with 16 minutes left in the first half. The scoring came easy for both teams at the beginning of the first half. After finding themselves down 9 with 15 minutes left in the first half the Cats came storming back and a 10-2 run put them back in the lead 27-26 with 10:48 left in the half. Both teams cooled off near the end of the first half, but Kentucky felt the scoring drought the most, scoring only one field goal between 7:24 and :47. Despite losing the lead, the Cats hung around and were only down 47-45 at halftime.

It didn’t take Kentucky long to retake the lead in the second half. An 11-3 run gave the Cats the 56-52 advantage with 16 minutes left in the game. The scoring drought returned for the Cats. With help from the officials, Bama went on a 14-2 run regaining the lead. After back-and-forth scoring for most of the half the Wildcats pulled even with Alabama with 5:13 left in the game. Alabama went on a 9-0 run after the tie and sealed the victory for the Tide.

Otega Oweh led the Wildcats in scoring with 21 points, followed by Lamont Butler with 17. Butler alsohad 8 assists and only 1 turnover.

Brandon Garrison had perhaps his best game as a Wildcat. Garrison made 5 of his 7 field goals totaling11 points. He also had the highest +\-of the team with a +6. Garrison alsopassed for 5 assists andgrabbed 6 rebounds.

Losing is never fun, but it easy to forget that almost every game that the Cats play is against a team that could easily make the Sweet Sixteen or better come tournament time. Kentucky’s biggest weakness is defense and allowing an opponent to score 102 points is evidence that it needs to improve. However, even with poor defense the Cats will still win many more games by simply scoring points more efficiently than their opponents.

The Cats will have a full week off to prepare for the away game against the Vanderbilt Commadores in a2:30 pm match-up.

Sponsored By

More in UK Basketball