FINAL: Kentucky takes down Texas 85-80, wins 4th straight SEC game

For the first time in the Mark Pope era, Kentucky has won four straight conference games.

On Wednesday night in Rupp Arena, the Wildcats (13-6; 4-2 SEC) were able to fend off the Texas Longhorns (11-8; 2-4 SEC) down the stretch, securing an important 85-80 victory. By avoiding a slow start for the first time in a few games, Kentucky never trailed by more than a single point despite going the final six minutes without a made field goal. The ‘Cats led this game for 29 minutes.

Kentucky shot 30-35 at the free-throw line while receiving huge games from Denzel Aberdeen (19 points), Otega Oweh (18), and Collin Chandler (18). For good measure, Malachi Moreno stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, four rebounds, six assists, and five blocks. Kentucky was able to hold Texas to just a 2-18 mark from behind the arc. The Longhorns were led by 29 points from Dailyn Swain.

After going down double-digits in the first half of the last three games, Kentucky finally came out with some energy to start this one, even controlling the lead for most of the half. Some big plays from Moreno and Andrija Jelavić helped the ‘Cats jump out to an early advantage. The second segment was a bit slower offensively, but Kentucky was still fending off potential Texas runs. Foul trouble quickly became an issue for UK, though. 12 minutes into the game, and the nation’s leading free-throw shooting team was already in the bonus.

But Kentucky would keep its hands to itself from there, eventually taking a five-point lead deep into the first half. Oweh had his mid-range game rolling. Texas would respond, however, with a 7-2 run that put the Horns back in front. Both teams would trade baskets the rest of the half, giving us a tied score of 40-40 at the intermission. Finishing at the rim was an issue for UK, but 20 combined points from Aberdeen and Oweh kept their team alive.

Out of the break, Kentucky rattled off six straight points before Texas punched back. The ‘Cats had a couple of opportunities to extend their lead to double-digits early in the second half, but racking up stops on the defensive end proved to be a tough feat. Texas went on a 7-0 run in under two minutes to regain the lead, 56-55, and force a UK timeout. To make matters worse, the ‘Cats would lose Kam Williams for the game due to a foot injury.

But a poorly-timed flagrant foul on Texas would flip the momentum back in Kentucky’s favor, leading to an 8-2 run that made the Longhorns call a timeout. A couple of Chandler free throws gave UK its first double-digit lead of the night at 70-60 with under eight minutes to play. A fastbreak dunk from Chandler a few possessions later made it a 76-65 advantage for Kentucky, leading to another UT timeout. The sophomore guard had 14 of UK’s last 15 points.

At the final media timeout, Kentucky was clinging to a 77-67 lead and riding all the momentum. But Texas had one final push to make, scoring five straight before Mo Dioubate hit a pair of freebies to stretch UK’s lead back out to seven. Four quick points from Texas cut it down to just a one-possession game, but Aberdeen would get fouled with 1:19 left on the clock, hitting one of two at the stripe.

Another Texas score made it a two-point game, but Aberdeen would once again get fouled going the other way. He hit both to make it an 82-78 Kentucky lead with 26 seconds left. The Longhorns would miss a three-pointer the next time down, allowing Dioubate to scoop up the rebound. Aberdeen then iced the game at the line as the ‘Cats held on to the win.

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