Kentucky Wildcats Secure Victory Against Ole Miss Rebels
In a thrilling contest at Rupp Arena, the Kentucky Wildcats overcame a sluggish start to secure a 72-63 victory against the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive win.
Otega Oweh’s Remarkable Performance
Otega Oweh had a remarkable performance, turning the tide after halftime with 20 of his 23 points scored in the second half. Despite failing to hit a shot in the first half, Oweh managed to shoot 6-of-12 from the field and went 10-of-14 from the free-throw line. This means he has now recorded double-digit scoring in 23 straight games, dating back to last season.
Key Contributors
Other key contributors for Kentucky included Collin Chandler and Jasper Johnson, contributing 12 and 11 points, respectively. Although Chandler struggled with his shooting, making just 2-of-10 attempts, he sank a crucial three-pointer late in the game that helped extend Kentucky’s lead to six points. Malachi Moreno sealed the win with two free throws, extending the lead even further.
Ole Miss Rebels’ Struggles
For the Rebels, AJ Storr was the standout performer, scoring 20 points, while Malik Dia added another 16. Despite having Corey Chest grab 10 rebounds, Ole Miss found themselves stifled offensively, particularly in the first half, where they scored a mere 23 points—their lowest first-half total this season. Storr was responsible for 10 of those points, but the Rebels struggled overall, hitting just 25% of their shots and suffering from a dismal 1-of-10 performance from beyond the arc.
Game Dynamics
Kentucky remained in control for most of the second half, although their lead never grew beyond 10 points, which they achieved following a dynamic 18-4 run showcased by Johnson’s early three-pointers. Even though Ole Miss managed to finish the first half with four free throws to narrow the gap to 29-23, they never gained a foothold in the second half.
Final Statistics
Both teams ended up shooting below 36% from the field, but Kentucky excelled at the charity stripe, converting on 28 of their 38 free throws. Notably, Kentucky extended their home winning streak against Ole Miss to 15 games.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Mississippi will host Vanderbilt next Saturday, while Kentucky is set to play at Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
