HALFTIME: Kentucky leads Eastern Illinois by... a lot

There isn’t much to hate about Kentucky‘s first-half performance, and there really isn’t much to love about Eastern Illinois’ first-half performance. The Wildcats lead by 28 with a 47-19 score at the break, and even that feels like we’re shortchanging the blue and white through 20 minutes.

The Panthers have been able to do next to nothing offensively, held to just 24.1 percent overall and 27.3 percent from deep with one player, JT Elder, scoring multiple buckets at the break. On the other end, the Wildcats are shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from three — doing just fine with four players scoring multiple times and nine of ten scoring outright.

Mo Dioubate leads the way with 10 points on 4-5 shooting with six rebounds and a block in 11 minutes, followed by Malachi Moreno with nine points and three rebounds, Trent Noah with eight points, Brandon Garrison with six, Collin Chandler with four, Jasper Johnson and Andrija Jelavic with three apiece, Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen with two and Kam Williams the only player held scoreless.

Maybe the wildest stat in the first half? Kentucky is outrebounding Eastern Illinois 31-10, including just eight defensive boards for the Panthers. It’s a 24-6 difference scoring in the paint and a 23-13 advantage off the bench. To their credit, though, they are blocking more shots than the Wildcats — a 4-3 lead for the road underdog.

Check out all of the stats at the break:

20 more minutes to finish the job.

Lock in for the 2025 Kentucky Basketball season with KSR Plus! We’re giving you behind-the-scenes intel you won’t find anywhere else. Join the most vibrant online community in the BBN during Mark Pope’s second season.