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(Photo by Mont Dawson) 11-15-25

Pregame Atmosphere

Kentucky entered Friday night looking to bounce back from a 96–88 loss to No. 12 Louisville earlier in the week. The Wildcats also received tough news on Wednesday: junior guard Jaland Lowe re-injured his right shoulder on a hit from Mo Dioubate. Lowe is expected to miss time and may consider a redshirt to preserve two additional years of eligibility in Lexington.

Their opponent, the Eastern Illinois Panthers of the Ohio Valley Conference, were also shorthanded, missing standout scorer Zion Fruster, who averages 16 points per game. While Rupp Arena filled in slowly, it settled into a solid Friday-night crowd ready to see Kentucky close out the BBN United Tip-Off and get back on track.

First Half

Kentucky wasted little time asserting control, storming out to a 15–2 lead behind Brandon Garrison, who scored six of the Wildcats’ first 15 points on a perfect 3–for-3 start. The Cats also welcomed back Trent Noah, who knocked down a left-corner three off a feed from Kam Williams. Andrija Jelavić added another triple from the left wing as the offense found an early rhythm.

Kentucky dominated on both ends, leading by as many as 30 before taking a 47–19 advantage into the locker room. Dioubate, Noah, and Moreno combined for 27 of the Wildcats’ 47 first-half points, powering a balanced and efficient attack.

Second Half

The Wildcats kept their foot down after the break. Otega Oweh, the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, opened the half with four quick points, while Denzel Aberdeen picked up where he left off, adding to a strong night and finishing with 13 points—following his 26-point performance against No. 12 Louisville.

Freshman Jasper Johnson also shined, contributing 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 3-of-7 shooting, including a pair of made threes. But the star of the night was Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate, who delivered a commanding 20-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Kentucky closed the game with complete control, cruising to a 99–53 victory and improving to 3–1 on the season.

Who do the Cats play next?

The Cats will take on the Spartans of Michigan State in New York City Tuesday in the Champions Classic at 6:30 and will be televised on ESPN.

Box Score