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HALFTIME: Kentucky sets a Mark Pope record and we're having a lot of fun

Jack PIlgrimby: Jack Pilgrim3 hours ago
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Jaland Lowe makes his Kentucky debut (Photo via UK Athletics)

Are you having fun? We’re having fun watching Kentucky absolutely steamroll Valparaiso, the Cats leading the Beacons 58-26 at halftime — a Mark Pope record for points scored in a single half, topping the 57 scored twice last season.

They’re doing it with insane efficiency, too, shooting 64.7 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from three and 100 percent at the line with eight different players earning multiple buckets in the first 20 minutes. Denzel Aberdeen still leads all scorers with 10 (2-2 FG, 5-5 FT) to go with four rebounds, two assists and a steal, followed by Collin Chandler with nine points (3-4 FG), three rebounds, one assist and one block. From there, Otega Oweh (4-5 FG) and Brandon Garrison (3-3 FG) have eight points while Jasper Johnson (2-3 FG) and Malachi Moreno have six (3-5 FG), followed by Mo Dioubate with five (2-3 FG), Jaland Lowe with four (2-3 FG) and Andrija Jelavic with two (1-4 FG).

Kam Williams remains the lone Wildcat without a make, unfortunately — gotta get him in on the fun in the final 20.

On the other end of the floor, Kentucky has been elite once again, allowing Valpo to shoot just 26.3 percent from the field, 20.0 percent from three and 50.0 percent at the line. Rakim Chaney (seven points) and Carter Hopoi (four points) are the only players with multiple baskets for the Beacons.

See all of the beautiful numbers for yourselves in an essentially flawless first-half performance. Can they keep it up in the second?

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2025-11-07