Kentucky Rallies Again, This Time Escaping Knoxville with a Gritty Win
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Kentucky comes out flat, digs itself into a double-digit hole by halftime... and then flips the script. It’s becoming a bit of a pattern for the Wildcats, and once again, they made it work - this time on the road against a Tennessee team that looked ripe for the taking early on.
The Vols jumped out to a 17-point lead in the first half, exposing Kentucky’s ongoing issues defending the pick-and-roll. Whether it was Nate Ament or Ja’Kobi Gillespie initiating the action, Tennessee found consistent success getting downhill and creating high-percentage looks. Kentucky’s defense struggled to contain dribble penetration, and the Vols made them pay.
But as we’ve seen before - most recently in Baton Rouge - this Kentucky team doesn’t fold. They clawed their way back into it, cutting the deficit to 11 by halftime and continuing to chip away after the break.
Rebounding became a swing factor late. Down three with under three minutes to play, Kentucky gave up three straight offensive boards - a sequence that could’ve easily buried them. But Tennessee couldn’t convert, and that gave the Wildcats a lifeline.
They didn’t tie it immediately, but they kept the pressure on. With 1:20 left, the deficit was down to one.
Still, foul trouble loomed large. Kentucky couldn’t stay out of reach-in situations, and Gillespie - ever the steady hand - baited Otega Oweh into a foul with a crafty ball fake.
Gillespie, an 87% free throw shooter, missed the first but hit the second, nudging Tennessee ahead.
Then came a critical timeout from Mark Pope. The ensuing offensive possession didn’t look promising at first - Oweh pulled up for a contested 17-footer that missed everything - but Ament was whistled for a foul. Oweh split the free throws, making it a one-point game again with 49 seconds left.
That’s when Collin Chandler made the play of the game.
Chandler jumped a pass, sparked the break, and found Oweh streaking to the rim. Oweh finished through contact, though he missed the and-one free throw. No matter - Kentucky grabbed the offensive board, and Denzel Aberdeen calmly floated in a short jumper to put the Wildcats up three with just 13 seconds remaining.
Tennessee had one last gasp. They got a clean look from deep but couldn’t convert.
On the scramble, Gillespie grabbed the rebound and drew a foul. With just 2.6 seconds left, he knocked down the first free throw.
Rick Barnes called a timeout, and Tennessee missed the second intentionally. Jalen Carey secured the board, but Kentucky came up with a game-sealing block to close it out.
It wasn’t always pretty - and the Wildcats still haven’t figured out how to start games with urgency - but the finish was all heart.
Denzel Aberdeen was the offensive standout, pouring in 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting. On a day when Oweh and Amadou Dioubate struggled to find rhythm (combining to shoot just 7-of-22), Aberdeen’s efficiency was a game-changer. Freshman Jasper Johnson also stepped up in a big way, contributing 12 points and steady minutes in a tough road environment.
This win makes it three straight in SEC play, with two of those coming on the road. And while the slow starts remain a concern, there’s no questioning this team’s fight. If Kentucky can put together a full 40 minutes, they’re going to be a problem down the stretch.