LEXINGTON, Ky. — In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, Ansley Almonor and Otega Oweh each contributed 13 points, leading No. 15 Kentucky to a 75-64 victory over No. 5 Tennessee on Tuesday night.
With this win, the Wildcats improved their record to 17-7 overall and 6-5 in the Southeastern Conference while successfully completing a regular-season sweep of the Volunteers. This latest victory comes on the heels of a previous win against Tennessee where they triumphed 78-73 in Knoxville on January 28. Kentucky’s performance against ranked teams has been strong this season, with a record of 7-1 against opponents in the Top 15.
Koby Brea and Trent Noah also made significant contributions, scoring 11 points each. The Wildcats showcased their long-range shooting, making a total of 12 three-point shots, three of which were netted by Noah.
Meanwhile, Zakai Zeigler led the scoring for Tennessee with 17 points, while Igor Milicic added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Chaz Lanier chipped in with 10 points.
Tennessee’s defeat snapped their three-game winning streak, leaving them with a 4-4 record in away games. The Volunteers struggled in the first half, managing only 26 points, and Lanier, who typically averages 17.7 points per game, was held to just 10 points.
The Wildcats faced some challenges as well, notably missing guard Jaxson Robinson due to a right wrist injury. Robinson, who contributes an average of 13.3 points per game, previously scored 17 points in the earlier matchup with Tennessee. This season, Kentucky has only had a full roster for seven games. Additionally, Lamont Butler exited the game with 8:40 remaining after possibly re-injuring his shoulder.
A key moment in the game occurred when Tennessee took their second lead with just 4:43 remaining. The Wildcats responded by dominating the final minutes, outscoring the Volunteers 17-4. Koby Brea played a pivotal role during this stretch with two critical three-pointers.
Looking ahead, Kentucky is set to face Texas on Saturday, while Tennessee will host Vanderbilt.
