FINAL: Kentucky shakes off slow start, blows out Tennessee Tech 104-54

Rupp Arena was rocking in anticipation of a pre-Thanksgiving Kentucky basketball feast, but it took longer than expected for the meal to get served.

On Wednesday night in Lexington, the No. 19 Wildcats (5-2) shook off a slow start against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (3-4) before cruising to a 104-54 victory. At one point in the first half, the score was tied at 25. But Kentucky kicked it into gear from there and cruised to another blowout win at home. Not even a return to Rupp for Tennessee Tech head coach John Pelphrey — a member of “The Unforgettables” Kentucky team in 1992 — could keep his group from ultimately being run out of the gym.

Five different Wildcats scored in double-figures, led by a trio of 16-point scorers: Otega Oweh, Trent Noah (a new career-high), and Denzel Aberdeen. Collin Chandler finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists while Malachi Moreno posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. Kentucky shot 59.1 percent from the field and 15-30 from deep, holding Tennessee Tech to just a 33.3 percent shooting clip as a team.

And now, we set our sights on next week’s showdown with No. 16 North Carolina…

Kentucky must’ve been dreaming of gravy and stuffing ahead of the opening tip. It took the Wildcats far too long to get rolling against this level of opponent. Both sides were trading baskets early and often in the first half. Tennessee Tech took an 11-10 lead after the first five minutes as UK’s offense struggled heavily. The Golden Eagles would even go in front by as many as four points, 23-19, midway through the half before the home team finally hit a groove.

Kentucky closed the half by outscoring Tennessee Tech 24-5 to take a 43-28 lead into the locker room. Noah started playing his best basketball of the season, dropping 10 points (already a season-high) and five boards in the first 20 minutes, while Moreno chipped in six points and eight boards of his own. UK ended up shooting 50 percent in the first half, compared to just 34.3 percent for Pelphrey’s squad.

The Wildcats carried the momentum into the second half. Behind 12 very quick points from Oweh, it was a 31-point Kentucky lead by the second media timeout of the half. To boot, Aberdeen’s jumper was on fire as he shot 4-5 from deep after the intermission. At one point, the ‘Cats made nine straight field goals to build a 49-point lead en route to the 50-point win.

Walk-ons Walker Horn and Zach Tow would check in for the final two minutes. Horn even made his first career college field goal — a desperation three-pointer right before the shot clock buzzer that sent the UK bench and all of Rupp Arena into a frenzy. Tow tacked on a free throw as well for his first college points. It was a fun ending to a game that did not start with a lot of joy.

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