FINAL: Collin Chandler's clutch three lifts Kentucky past Ole Miss 72-63

Exhale, BBN. A win is still a win.

On Saturday afternoon in Rupp Arena, Kentucky (14-6; 5-2 SEC) overcame a poor offensive performance to take down the Ole Miss Rebels (11-9; 3-4 SEC) by a final score of 72-63. Collin Chandler, who finished with 12 points, drilled a timely three-pointer with under a minute to go that created enough separation for the Wildcats down the stretch.

Otega Oweh led all players with his game-high 23 points (10-13 FT), 20 of those coming after halftime. Jasper Johnson rounded out the double-digit scoring for the ‘Cats with 11 of his own. Malachi Moreno grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a pair of shots for good measure. As a team, Kentucky shot just 36 percent from the field and 8-27 from deep, but the defense was able to hold Ole Miss to only a 32.3 percent mark from the field. UK missed a few too many free throws in the second half, but still finished the game 28-38 from the stripe.

UK has now won five straight conference games after an 0-2 start.

Out of the gate, it was an ugly offensive start for both teams, a trend that would continue throughout the entire first half. Oweh further complicated the issues on offense by picking up a pair of fouls four minutes into the game. But it was an equally miserable opening half by the Rebels, including Travis Perry, who airballed his first three-pointer and was 0-3 from deep at the break inhis return to Rupp Arena.

Johnson would spark a timely Kentucky run, though, rattling off eight straight by himself that pushed the ‘Cats in front 19-15 with under eight minutes left in the half. But foul trouble in the frontcourt began to bother UK — Brandon Garrison was up to three first-half fouls while Moreno was hit with a pair before the intermission. And despite shooting just 32 percent from the field, Kentucky held a 29-23 edge at halftime, the team’s largest against a high-major program all season.

It didn’t get any prettier out of the locker room. Kentucky would extend its lead to as many as eight early in the second half before Ole Miss knocked down back-to-back three-pointers. Another triple from the Rebels soon after tied the game at 39-39, but a Johnson three-pointer was followed by an Oweh layup, allowing UK to regain the lead. Missed free throws would begin to give the ‘Cats fits, though.

A four-minute field goal drought would then strike Kentucky at the wrong time. It was just a 50-49 lead with 7:55 left in the game. Oweh would finally get a three to fall to end the skid, but the ‘Cats just couldn’t find a way to break the game open. UK was still clinging to a two-point lead with 2:18 to go as Mark Pope called a timeout.

With Kentucky up 62-60, Moreno would get fouled on a second-chance layup attempt with 1:05 on the clock. He hit the first, but missed the second, which was recovered by Mo Dioubate and led to a held ball in UK’s favor. Chandler then hit the biggest shot of the afternoon, a deep triple with 47 seconds left that gave the ‘Cats a 66-60 advantage and ultimately the win.

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