Kentucky Opens SEC Play with Another Top 10 Win

J.D. Hall January 5, 2025

Kentucky began league play today with a 106-100 win over #6 Florida today. On the heals of a big win over Brown and a blowout loss to OSU, this game was big for the Wildcats. The game, it didn’t disappoint.

Florida came out and threw the first punch, getting out to a 26-15 lead behind Walter Clayton and Reuben Chinyelu who both had 10 first half points and Chinyelu 6 rebounds, 4 offensive. The Gators controlled everything in the first 9 minutes getting out to that lead, including a 12-2 start on the boards.

Kentucky answered in a big way, going on a 16-0 run to take a 31-25 lead. The run was fueled by Otega Oweh and Kobe Brea and also a new fight and emphasis on the defensive end of the floor. They were forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. Oweh and Brea would lead the Cats in the first half with 10 and 14 respectively going a combined 5-6 from 3. That run wouldn’t be the only double digit to 0 run in the first half foe Kentucky. Florida would go on their own little run to tie it at 40. Kentucky answered again with a 10-0 run that led to a 52-42 halftime lead.

The second half was full of more fast paced, well played basketball. Florida scored the first 6 on back to back 3s to cut it to five and most of the half was played in the 4-8 point range.

Clayton and Alijah Martin carried the load for Florida in the second half, combining for 43 of their 58 second half points (23 for Clayton, 20 for Martin). Time and again when Kentucky would stretch the lead out, one of them would hit a big shot or draw a foul to keep the Gators in it.

Kentucky always had a counter for what Florida would throw at them. From the 14:51 mark until the 12:08 mark of the second half, the lead was always between 1 and 3 points. With the score 70-69 with 11:42 left, Oweh would kick off another 10-0 run with a short paint jumper. Oweh would score 6 of the 10 along with a Lamont Butler layup and an Andrew Carr put-back.

Florida didn’t quit, they were able to cut it down to 2 with just over 4 minutes to go. The following possession, the ball would go out of bounds with just 3 seconds on the shot clock. Coach Mark Pope called a timeout and drew up the perfect play. Carr would get the inbounds pass and and kick it to Butler for an open 3 that he buried to give Kentucky a 92-87 lead. Florida would get no closer than 4 the rest of the way.

Clayton would finish with 33 points including 6 made 3s. Martin would finish with 26 and 4 made 3s. Chinyelu would be the only other Gator in double figures with 10, all 10 coming in the first half, he would also add 8 rebounds (5 offensive).

Kentucky was more balanced with 6 players in double figures, led by Brea with a career high 23 points on 7-9 from 3. Joining him were Oweh (16 points), Butler (19 points), Robinson (14 points), Carr (12 points) and Amari Williams (15 points).

Kentucky is now 10-1 in their last 11 games against teams that come into the game 10-0 or better with the win. Pope also became the first coach since Rupp to start 3-0 versus top 10 teams, Rupp would start 7-0.

Kentucky returns to SEC action Tuesday at the Georgia Bulldogs at 7:00pm on SEC Network.