Key Highlights
- This is a win that can inspire a ton of confidence in this young but exciting group. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFirst HalfTennessee really showed its muscle and size early, grabbing three offensive rebounds within the first five minutes of the game.
- The Volunteers used an 11-0 run to race out to a 20-8 lead just over six minutes into the game. Kentucky, though, withstood the Volunteers’ onslaught and battled back into the game to make it 22-16 midway through the first half. The Volunteers were relentless in the first 20 minutes, out-rebounding Kentucky 20-12 and forcing eight Kentucky turnovers.
- Eight of those rebounds were on the offensive glass. Despite Kentucky shooting 10-of-23 from the floor and 5-of-14 from 3-point range, the Volunteers countered with 14-of-31 from the field and 6-of-13 from 3-point range to lead 42-31 at halftime. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSecond HalfThis was where Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen took over.
- The duo combined for 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 4-of-12 from 3-point range. The Kentucky Wildcats channeled their inner-Chicago Bears and clawed their way back into the game.
- They did it with 3-point shooting— yes, the Wildcats can shoot 3s — pounding the paint, getting defensive sides, and showing grit that is becoming a defining trait of this team. Kentucky cut the deficit to two points once and to three points on multiple occasions in the second half.
