LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jaxson Robinson led the scoring frenzy with 20 points as No. 9 Kentucky cruised to a convincing 97-68 victory over Lipscomb on Tuesday night.
Lamont Butler contributed 16 points, while Otega Oweh and Koby Brea added 14 and 12 points, respectively, with Brea coming off the bench for the Wildcats (4-0). Kentucky swiftly established control of the game, jumping to a 20-6 lead within the first eight minutes. The Wildcats showcased impressive shooting, hitting seven of their first eleven shots and finishing the game with 34 baskets from 62 attempts, including 12 three-pointers out of 25 attempts.
This dominant performance followed a significant rise in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, where Kentucky climbed ten spots after a notable 77-72 victory over No. 6 Duke, marking a significant milestone for rookie head coach Mark Pope.
On the other side, Jacob Ognacevic was a bright spot for the Bisons (2-5), scoring 17 points, while Will Pruitt added 12. However, Lipscomb faced challenges in converting consecutive shots, especially in the first half, suffering their third straight loss. The Bisons struggled early, shooting 9 for 34 (26%) from the field and only managing 2 of 19 from beyond the arc, which set them back significantly.
Robinson’s shooting was efficient, hitting 6 of 10 attempts overall and sinking 3 of 6 from three-point range. Amari Williams bolstered Kentucky’s rebounding efforts with 11 boards to go along with his nine points, helping the Wildcats dominate the glass with a 43-28 advantage.
Key Observations:
For Lipscomb, the team came into the game having lost two of their last three matches by narrow margins. However, their dismal start, notably missing ten shots in a row after their initial basket, including eight consecutive three-point attempts, sealed their fate early in the game.
Conversely, Kentucky’s strong shooting performance, coupled with their discipline, saw them commit only eight turnovers throughout the match — just two of which occurred after the halftime break.
Looking ahead, Kentucky is set to host Jackson State on Friday night, while Lipscomb will face the same opponent at home on Sunday.