LEXINGTON, Ky. — Otega Oweh scored 20 points, leading No. 17 Kentucky to an 82-61 victory over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night. The Wildcats improved to 18-8 overall and 7-6 in the Southeastern Conference. At halftime, they held a narrow 41-40 lead, but quickly capitalized on their size advantage, securing their first three buckets of the second half and prompting Vanderbilt to take a timeout just three minutes in.
Amari Williams contributed significantly for Kentucky, adding 17 points to the scoreline. On the opposing side, Vanderbilt’s Devin McGlockton was the standout performer with 14 points and 10 rebounds. However, the Commodores struggled in the second half, shooting only 30% from the field, including a dismal 1 for 10 from beyond the arc, after managing a solid 49% in the first half.
Insights from the game indicate that Vanderbilt continues to face challenges in the latter parts of conference matches. They have allowed opponents to shoot an average of 56% in the second half, with a troubling 45% on three-point attempts. Conversely, Kentucky excelled, shooting 65% from the field and 50% from long distance in the same period.
Kentucky’s season has been hampered by injuries, as they have only fielded a fully healthy lineup on seven occasions. The Wildcats were again missing key players: Lamont Butler (shoulder) and Jaxson Robinson (wrist) did not participate for the second consecutive game. The team relied on a combination of point guards, with freshmen Travis Perry and Colin Chandler collectively scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
A pivotal moment occurred when Vanderbilt narrowed the gap to 47-44. Subsequently, Kentucky responded with a decisive 12-2 run, extending their lead to 59-46. Williams and teammate Carr contributed two baskets each during this stretch, with Koby Brea finishing it off with a three-pointer.
In terms of rebounding, the first half favored Vanderbilt, who outscored Kentucky 20-12 in the paint and controlled 18-12 on boards, including eight offensive rebounds. However, the second half saw a complete reversal, as the Wildcats dominated the boards 18-12 and outscored the Commodores 20-14 in the paint.
Looking ahead, both teams have upcoming games on Saturday, with Vanderbilt set to host No. 25 Mississippi and Kentucky traveling to face No. 4 Alabama.
