LIVE BLOG: No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 1 Purdue
After brief scrimmages at Big Blue Madness and the Blue-White Game, it’s time to see what this Kentucky team can do against someone else; how about the No. 1 team in the country? KSR’s LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from the exhibition between the No. 9 Cats and the No. 1 Boilermakers live from Rupp Arena (6 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Jaland Lowe is out after suffering a shoulder injury in the Blue-White Game. He should return to action soon, but tonight, Kentucky’s makeshift backcourt will go up against Braden Smith, the best player in the country. The tests extend to the inside, where the Cats will need to contain Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff. We know Kentucky has depth, talent, and versatility; it’s time to see how that measures up against one of the most experienced teams in the country.
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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FINAL: Kentucky destroys Purdue 78-65
10/24/2025 06:52:25 PMKentucky shoots 51.6 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from three and 57.1 percent at the line with three double-figure scorers in Jasper Johnson (15), Otega Oweh (10) and Trent Noah (10). Denzel Aberdeen added nine, followed by Mo Dioubate and Malachi Moreno with eight, Brandon Garrison with seven and Kam Williams with six.
Trey Kaufman-Renn led the Boilermakers with 19 points on 7-15 shooting, followed by Fletcher Loyer on an abysmal 3-15 overall and Braden Smith with 11 on 3-9 shooting with five assists, four rebounds and two turnovers.
Absolute domination.
OH MY, JASPER JOHNSON!
10/24/2025 06:50:31 PMARE YOU KIDDING ME JASPER?!?! WHAT A DEBUT FOR THE LEXINGTON KID!
He finished with a team-high 15 points on 6-10 shooting and 3-7 from three with three assists in 19 minutes. Absolute DAWG.
Now, THAT is a Whitaker Bank Shot!
10/24/2025 06:47:20 PMKentucky went on a 6-0 run after Purdue scored its first bucket in seven minutes
10/24/2025 06:42:00 PMPurdue hit a three at the 10:31 mark. It did not score another basket until the 3:42 mark — a layup by Trey Kaufman-Renn.
Kentucky immediately went on a 6-0 run to go up 17 points with three minutes to go.
When do the hard games start? Fans at Rupp Arena are dying to know.
The KSR references are coming in HOT on SECN
10/24/2025 06:39:54 PMThank you, Tom Hart. We love you.
LOOK OUT BELOW, COLLIN CHANDLER!
10/24/2025 06:21:54 PMDOUBLE-PUMP FOR THE MORMON MAMBA!
RUPP ARENA IS GOING CRAZY. CATS LEAD 56-45 WITH 11:43 TO GO.
A 7-0 run has Rupp Arena buzzing…
10/24/2025 06:17:57 PMHappy birthday, Malachi Moreno! He just threw down a big-time slam to put Kentucky up 10 on a 7-0 run for the Cats. It’s 51-41 with 12:40 to go, folks…
Jasper to Malachi? KY Til I Die.
So close to a big-time celebration in Lexington.
The Master Blaster is in the house!
10/24/2025 06:17:11 PMUK leads 44-40 with 15:14 to go
10/24/2025 06:10:18 PMPurdue is closing the gap, but Kentucky is still hanging on at the first TV timeout to open the second half. Kaufman-Renn is doing the dirty work for the Boilermakers with a couple of tough baskets while Aberdeen and Dioubate are responding with some buckets of their own.
Braden Smith converted a big and-one as we went to break, but the Wildcats have done a good job on him all things considered.
HALF: Kentucky 38, Purdue 30
10/24/2025 05:47:17 PMAfter 20 minutes of play, Kentucky leads Purdue, the No. 1 team in the country, 38-30. Otega Oweh and Jasper Johnson lead the Cats with eight points each, while Mo Dioubate has a game-high five rebounds. Kentucky is shooting 47% (14-30) from the field and 31% (5-16) from three-point range. Purdue is only 37% (10-27) from the field, 29% (2-7) from the outside. Kentucky has 11 fastbreak points to Purdue’s 5.
It’s just the first half of an exhibition, but man, Kentucky looks good — with room to grow.
Kentucky boys are shining
10/24/2025 05:43:33 PMAlmost everyone is playing well so far, but it’s very cool that the two Kentucky freshmen on the roster have both had big moments. Jasper Johnson is up to three three-pointers so far, while Malachi Moreno just threw down a dunk to push the lead to ten on a fast-break. That makes up for the three-pointer he bricked on a previous possession. Happy birthday, Malachi!
Kentucky 38, Purdue 28 – 1:38 1H
Score Update: Kentucky 31, Purdue 24 – 3:24 1H
10/24/2025 05:38:37 PMMo Dioubate picked up his third foul of the night, sending Trey Kaufman-Renn to the line, where he hit one of two free throws. After a missed three by Kam Williams, Kaufman-Renn scored to narrow the lead to seven, 31-24.
Jasper Johnson pushes the lead to 10
10/24/2025 05:35:28 PMJasper Johnson just pushed Kentucky’s lead to double digits with his second three of the night, which came after a missed layup by Trent Noah. Can confirm the crowd loved it.
Rupp Arena loves Mo Dioubate
10/24/2025 05:32:58 PMJust like that, Kentucky is up eight, thanks to the Mo and Ow show. The Cats have hit their last three field goals while holding Purdue scoreless over the last 3:49. Dioubate got a layup off a turnover and then a defensive rebound on the other end, causing the Rupp Arena crowd to come to their feet. He’s already a fan favorite.
Kentucky 29, Purdue 21 – 5:58 1H
Score Update: Kentucky 24, Purdue 20 – 7:21 1H
10/24/2025 05:26:42 PMA foul by Brandon Garrison just spoiled what was otherwise an incredible defensive stretch by Kentucky. After an Otega Oweh dunk, the Cats were clamping down on the Boilermakers on the other end. Unfortunately, the refs whistled Garrison for contact.
Cats are looking good. Oweh is Kentucky’s leading scorer, with 7. He’s one of eight Cats who are on the board, ten who have played total.
Andrija Jelavic doing a little bit of everything
10/24/2025 05:22:45 PMAndrija Jelavic may have been the last player to arrive on campus, but he’s quickly made up for lost time. So far, the Croatian is doing a little bit of everything, snatching up offensive rebounds, hunting down loose balls, and even dishing an assist to Malachi Moreno. Color me impressed by him so far.
Score Update: Kentucky 15, Purdue 12 – 11:02 1H
10/24/2025 05:17:30 PMKentucky still leads at the second media timeout. The second line of Chandler, Johnson, Williams, Jelavic, and Moreno is playing well, albeit with some turnovers. Jasper got his first bucket of the game, a three, off some beautiful ball movement:
Jelavic is showing some real hustle on the boards. He’s already looking better than expected. He’s at the line for two free throws after this timeout.
Mo Dioubate picks up his second foul
10/24/2025 05:12:36 PMRoughly a minute after getting his first foul, Mo Dioubate picked up his second. He’ll be headed to the bench. We had almost a line change, with Jasper Johnson, Kam Williams, Andrija Jelavic, and Malachi Moreno joining Collin Chandler on the floor.
UK 12, Purdue 10 – 14:00 1H
Score Update: Kentucky 10, Purdue 8 – 15:40 1H
10/24/2025 05:08:12 PMKentucky leads Purdue by two at the first media timeout, 10-8. Mo Dioubate scored the latest bucket, but just picked up a foul, his first. Kentucky is 4-7 from the field so far, 2-4 from three. Otega Oweh and Fletcher Loyer both have five points. Collin Chandler was the first Cat off the bench.
Back-to-back threes by Aberdeen and Oweh
10/24/2025 05:04:32 PMThe first Wildcat to score tonight? Denzel Aberdeen, who hit a three to tie the game at three. After a Fletcher Loyer bucket (yes, he’s still in school), Otega Oweh hit a three of his own to give Kentucky a 6-5 lead. Oweh followed it up with a driving layup to make it 8-5 Kentucky with 17:31 to go in the first half.
It’s a Doug Shows game
10/24/2025 04:57:57 PMGet ready for some flexing. Doug Shows is one of the officials tonight, alongside Terry Oglesby and Owen Shortt.
Reece Potter out
10/24/2025 04:53:47 PMAnother Wildcat will not take the floor tonight. Reece Potter is out due to illness.
Starting Lineups
10/24/2025 04:51:38 PMHere are the starting lineups for tonight. Mountain Mamba is getting the nod at the No. 3 spot, as reported earlier today by Jack Pilgrim.
Kentucky
- 00 Otega Oweh
- 1 Denzel Aberdeen
- 9 Trent Noah
- 10 Brandon Garrison
- 23 Mo Dioubate
Purdue
- 0 CJ Cox
- 2 Fletcher Loyer
- 3 Braden Smith
- 4 Trey Renn-Kaufmn
- 45 Oscar Cluff
Obinna Ekezie Jr. is here too
10/24/2025 04:38:19 PM2027 5-star center Obinna Ekezie Jr. is also visiting tonight. The No. 1 center and No. 3 overall player in the 2027 class is originally from Nigeria and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, shortly after his 13th birthday. He attended St. Raphael High School in Louisville as an eighth grader. His father, Obinna Ekezie Sr., played basketball at Maryland from 1995 to 1999 before embarking on a seven-year professional career.
2027 No. 9-ranked prospect Lincoln Cosby is the other recruit expected to be here tonight.
Chase Lumpkin is here for his visit
10/24/2025 04:35:27 PM2027 four-star guard Chase Lumpkin is making himself at home at Rupp Arena on his unofficial visit. The No. 60 prospect in the 2027 class holds offers from Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida State, San Diego, and East Carolina, among others. He has taken unofficial visits to Alabama, Tennessee, and Ole Miss.
Hopefully, he enjoys his first trip to Rupp.
Greetings from Rupp Arena
10/24/2025 03:58:55 PMHello, friends, and greetings from the media section at Rupp Arena, where we are roughly 55 minutes from tipoff of Kentucky vs. Purdue. It was an easy drive up from Nashville on an absolutely beautiful day. The first person I saw when I walked in? John Robic. Robic is loving life as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs and a granddad. Like us, he can’t believe KSR just celebrated its 20th anniversary.
How to Watch/Listen
10/24/2025 01:04:12 PMIt’s a Tom Hart weekend. KSR’s favorite announcer will call tonight’s game alongside Jimmy Dykes on the SEC Network. Tomorrow night, he’ll also be on the call for Kentucky vs. Tennessee with Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic. Get ready to count the KSR references.
If you can’t watch the game, you can listen to Tom Leach and Goose Givens on the UK Sports Network.
- Tipoff: 6:00 p.m. ET
- TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart, Jimmy Dykes)
- Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
- AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
- FM: 98.1 WBUL
- Online: iHeart Radio
- Sirius XM: TBA
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