Lexington, Ky. — Koby Brea contributed 17 points, rounding out a vital second-half performance that pushed No. 5 Kentucky to a 78-67 win against Colgate on Wednesday evening.
The Wildcats saw their offense ignite with back-to-back 3-pointers from Jaxson Robinson, driving a 14-2 run over a span of 7 minutes and 31 seconds, ultimately establishing a 63-49 lead. This surge featured contributions from Trent Noah, Otega Oweh, and Brea, providing Kentucky with the essential scoring cushion. Despite falling behind by 17-0 early in the game, the Raiders managed to close the gap, trailing just 38-36 at halftime and taking a brief lead of 41-40 shortly after the break thanks to Jalen Cox’s 3-pointer.
For Kentucky (with a record of 9-1), Brea shot 5 of 8 from behind the arc and finished with 6 of 12 overall. Amari Williams and Oweh each added 15 points, while both Robinson and Andrew Carr contributed 11 points.
Parker Jones led Colgate (now 2-9) with 17 points, followed by Brady Cummins and Jalen Cox, who each scored 10 as the team faced their fifth straight defeat.
Kentucky’s shooting was 43% overall, improving to 49% in the second half, while Colgate managed just 41% for the game.
**Key Insights:**
For Colgate, after starting out shaky and trailing 17-0, the team gained momentum and even took the lead, but they faltered when it came to defending against Kentucky’s perimeter shooting. Conversely, Kentucky initially displayed control but became erratic and unfocused through the middle of the match. Their deficit proved to be a catalyst for a more concentrated effort as they seized back control of the game.
**Crucial Moment:**
With Kentucky trailing 47-46, they executed a 12-0 run supported by four successful 3-pointers out of their next five attempts.
**Important Statistics:**
Kentucky completed 13 of their last 26 shots, which included making 6 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc.
**Next on the Schedule:**
Colgate is set to face Vermont at home on Sunday, kicking off a three-game homestand, while Kentucky will host their rival Louisville on Saturday.