LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jaxson Robinson emerged as the standout player, scoring 19 points, leading the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats to a decisive 105-76 victory over Georgia State on Friday night.
The Wildcats improved their record to 7-0, marking the first time since the 2016-17 season that they have started a campaign with seven consecutive wins. This also marked their fourth game of the season scoring over 100 points.
Following Robinson’s performance, Lamont Butler contributed 17 points to the score. Amari Williams added 14 points, while both Ansley Almonor and Otega Oweh each chipped in 12 points. Andrew Carr and Koby Brea rounded out the scoring with 10 points apiece.
Despite usually being proficient from beyond the arc, averaging 11 three-pointers per game, Kentucky struggled against the Panthers, making a season-low of only seven three-pointers.
On the other side, Cesare Edwards topped the scoring for Georgia State with 21 points, followed by Zarique Nutter who added 19 and Malachi Brown who scored 11 points.
In terms of performance highlights, Georgia State initially took the lead by scoring the first three points and narrowed Kentucky’s double-digit advantage to just two points at 31-29 with eight minutes left in the first half. However, they were outpaced by the Wildcats, who scored 17 points to the Panthers’ four for the remainder of the half. Georgia State struggled with ball control, committing 18 turnovers that allowed Kentucky to capitalize with 36 points off those mistakes.
For the Wildcats, their shooting from three-point territory was below average. Missing their first three attempts, they managed to connect on only seven by the end of the game. They successfully landed four three-pointers in the first half but found their rhythm during a crucial 17-4 run late in the half, which helped them create a larger lead.
A pivotal moment in the contest occurred when Kentucky surged ahead, outpacing Georgia State 44-23 after a brief scuffle in the second half.
A notable statistic from the game shows that despite their off-night from long distance, Kentucky excelled in the paint, scoring an impressive 62 points and adding 23 points on fast breaks.
Looking ahead, Georgia State is set to host Kennesaw State next Friday, while Kentucky will take on Clemson on Tuesday in another exciting matchup.