LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Loyola Maryland
After another disappointing loss, it’s time for Kentucky to get right. KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Rupp Arena as the Cats host Loyola Maryland (7:00 p.m. ET, SEC Network+).
Kentucky is now 3-2 following Tuesday’s loss to Michigan State in the Champions Classic. Tonight, they’ll likely be without Jaland Lowe (shoulder) and potentially Mo Dioubate, who hurt his ankle late in the game vs. the Spartans. Mark Pope said Dioubate will be a game-time decision tonight. Regardless, the Cats should take care of business vs. the Loyola Greyhounds, who are 2-4 with wins over Penn State Abington and Stonehill. Kentucky is a 34.5-point favorite on BetMGM.
Tonight’s game probably won’t ease fans’ concerns too much, but it’s a good opportunity for the team to find its footing and get back in the win column. Refresh the feed below for updates and KSR’s takes on the game from Rupp Arena. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-710-3556 (standard messaging rates apply).
Special thanks to our live blog sponsor this season, Friends of Coal.
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KAM WILLIAMS AT THE HORN FOR THREE
11/21/2025 06:42:01 PMTHE BANK IS OPEN FOR KAM WILLIAMS!
Quite the feel-good half for Kentucky, who now leads Loyola (Md.) 50-20 in a game that really hasn’t ever been close.
Collin Chandler leads all scorers with 11 points on 4-8 shooting and 3-4 from three, followed by Otega Oweh with nine on 4-7 shooting and 1-3 from three with four rebounds and two assists. Williams is now up to seven points on 3-6 shooting and 1-3 from three with five rebounds and three assists while Jasper Johnson has added six points on 2-3 from three, Andrija Jelavic with five and Malachi Moreno, Denzel Aberdeen and Brandon Garrison with four.
As a team, the Wildcats are shooting 56.8 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three while holding the Greyhounds to 27.6 percent overall and 25.0 percent from deep.
1:50 1H: Kentucky 45, Loyola MD 20
11/21/2025 06:36:51 PMKentucky is still red-hot from the field, shooting 54.3 percent overall and 53.8 percent from three. The Wildcats are currently on a 15-2 run over the last six minutes as Loyola is just one of its last 11 with six turnovers in that span.
Needless to say, UK is in no trouble whatsoever.
How confident are you in Collin Chandler when he shoots?
11/21/2025 06:33:16 PMCollin Chandler is approaching Koby Brea, Reed Sheppard, Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Murray, etc., territory. He’s just on a different planet shooting the ball right now — now up to 11 points on 4-8 overall and 3-4 from three.
Fun fact: Not one foul has been called
11/21/2025 06:29:18 PMWith 4:29 to go in the first half, the officials have not called a single foul on either team. No free throws, no technicals, no nothing.
Speaking of zeroes, no turnovers for the Wildcats, either. That’s pretty good if I do say so myself.
How about a 7-0 run for the Cats
11/21/2025 06:27:16 PMLoyola hasn’t scored in three minutes and has missed its last five shots. Meanwhile, Kentucky is on a 7-0 run over the last 2:55 and currently lead by 19 with five minutes to go in the half.
The Greyhounds are shooting just 31.8 percent from the field overall and 36.4 percent from three.
7:29 1H: Kentucky 33, Loyola MD 18
11/21/2025 06:23:52 PMKentucky is shooting 63.6 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from three with seven different Wildcats scoring, led by Otega Oweh with nine points on 4-6 FG. Collin Chandler is right behind with eight on 3-5 FG and 2-2 3PT, followed by Andrija Jelavic with five, Brandon Garrison with four, Jasper Johnson with three, and Kam Williams with two.
We love us some Jelly
11/21/2025 06:17:27 PMInstant impact off the bench for Andrija Jelavic, who is already up to five points on 2-3 shooting and 1-1 from three with a rebound in four quick minutes. He’s fighting hard defensively, too, but this is his bread and butter:
Cats lead 30-15 with 10 minutes to go in the first half.
COLLIN CHANDLER IS ON FIRE
11/21/2025 06:10:13 PMWill this kid ever cool down? I’m thinking no.
The Mormon Mamba is up to a team-high eight points on 3-5 shooting and 2-2 from three in just six minutes.
Otega Oweh is right behind with six points, two rebounds and two steals, followed by a single bucket for Kam Williams — who also has two rebounds and two assists — Malachi Moreno and Brandon Garrison.
Cats are shooting 75.0 percent from the field and 100.0 percent from three. Life is good in Lexington.
First subs: Jasper Johnson and Brandon Garrison
11/21/2025 06:07:38 PMWith Pope rolling out the new starting lineup, who will be the new first run of subs? That would be the Lexington kid and BG, coming in just ahead of the first TV timeout.
Kentucky leads 20-8 with 14:14 to go in the half — a couple of contested shots made by Loyola Md., but no actual pressure on the Cats. This one feels good, folks.
Did Otega Oweh hear the noise?
11/21/2025 06:03:49 PMMr. 00 has been a man possessed to open the game, scoring six quick points and playing like his butt is on fire — a total change from anything we’ve seen from him this season.
Kentucky leads 10-3 and is in total control barely even two minutes in. Exactly how it ought to be.
Starting lineup changes
11/21/2025 05:29:09 PMDuring his pregame conversation with Tom Leach, Mark Pope confirmed that Mo Dioubate (ankle) and Jaland Lowe (shoulder) will be out tonight. Kam Williams will start in Dioubate’s place, but that’s not the only change to the starting lineup. Malachi Moreno will get his first career start, taking Brandon Garrison’s spot.
“We’re going to go with Malachi at the five. We’re going to just change our frontline right now just because I think Malachi’s physicality, his size, is going to offset some of what we lose with Mo. Then when we bring in AJ [Andrija Jelavic] and BG [Brandon Garrison, we just have a really versatile, big, strong power forward tandem.”
Jack Pilgrim broke the news of the starting lineup change earlier tonight on KSBoard, another reason you should subscribe.
Kentucky Starting Lineup
- 00 Otega Oweh
- 1 Denzel Aberdeen
- 3 Kam Williams
- 5 Collin Chandler
- 24 Malachi Moreno
Loyola Maryland Starting Lineup
- 0 Braeden Speed
- 3 Jordan Stiemke
- 6 Jacob Theodosiou
- 7 Jonas Sirtautas
- 22 Sam Springer
Tonight’s refs…
11/21/2025 05:16:38 PMGet ready for the Doug Shows show! He’s the lead ref tonight, along with Byron Jarrett and Jason Deering. Kentucky is 99-46 in games officiated by Shows and 34-14 in games by Jarrett. This may be Deering’s first Kentucky game, as BigBlueHistory.net doesn’t have him in its database.
Time for Shows to get win No. 100 with the Cats.
Mo Dioubate in street clothes
11/21/2025 05:00:25 PMMo Dioubate suffered an ankle injury late in the Michigan State game. Mark Pope hinted he would sit out tonight’s game during his press conference yesterday. That appears to be the case, as Dioubate is in street clothes during warm-ups.
How to Watch, Listen
11/21/2025 08:29:14 AMTonight’s game is on SEC Network+, aka “the computer.” It’s the second-to-last SEC Network+ game of the season, the final one being vs. Bellarmine on Dec. 23.
- Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
- TV: SEC Network+ (Darren Headrick, Cameron Mills)
- Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
- AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
- FM: 98.1 WBUL
- Online: iHeart Radio
- Sirius XM: 81
If you’re not sure how to access SEC Network+, Steven Peake is here to help you out.
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