It was far from pretty, but the Kentucky Wildcats did just enough to score a 72-63 win over the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, marking a fifth straight win for Mark Pope and Co.
In a game that came down to the final minute, Collin Chandler’s 3-pointer with 47.7 seconds remaining extended Kentucky’s lead to 66-60 and effectively put the game out of reach. It was a much-needed 3-pointer for Chandler, the first shot Kentucky made since a driving lay-up by Otega Oweh with 4:08 left in the second half.
For
Chandler, it was just his second made shot of the game overall, with 10 shots taken overall and seven coming from 3-point range.
Chandler’s electrifying shot was the key in sealing Kentucky’s nine-point win over Ole Miss in a Saturday morning affair at Rupp Arena.
This game was a true grinder. It had no flow. Maybe the early start time and incoming inclement weather had something to do with that, but Kentucky used every last point, rebound, free-throw, assist, steal, ounce of guts to win its fifth straight after starting 0-2 in SEC play.
It was a much closer game than maybe Wildcats fans anticipated. Ole Miss’s 3-point shooting came alive in the second half, keeping the Rebels in the game throughout the second 20 minutes.
Thankfully, Kentucky closed the game on a 10-3 run, with Chandler’s 3-pointer the highlight of the closing run.
First Half
Kentucky had multiple multi-minute scoring droughts, but its defense helped it withstand them.
Jasper Johnson went on an 8-0 run by himself, with two three-pointers, to bring Kentucky back from down 15-11 to up 19-15.
Both teams struggled from the field in the first half, keeping the game close throughout the first 20 minutes.
Kentucky shot just 32 percent from the field, including 4-16 from three-point range. The Wildcats were also 9-12 from the free-throw line.
The Wildcats’ defense held Ole Miss to just 25 percent shooting from the floor and 1-of-10 from three-point range. Kentucky forced seven Ole Miss turnovers and held the Rebels to just one assist.
It was great to see Kentucky take 16 three-pointers. That’s what you want from a Mark Pope offense
Second Half
Foul trouble plagued Kentucky’s frontcourt in the second half. Early on, Malachi Moreno, Mouhamed Dioubate, and Brandon Garrison all had three fouls. Denzel Aberdeen eventually picked up his third foul with over five minutes remaining.
Ole Miss started 5-of-6 from beyond the arc to tie the game at 39-39 with less than 14 minutes remaining.
The Wildcats’ shooting droughts carried over into the second half. At the under-eight media timeout, Kentucky had gone 3:42 without a made shot.
Both teams struggled from the free-throw line in the second half and the entire game. Kentucky was 19-of-26 from the free-throw line, while Ole Miss was 6-of-8.
Kentucky, though, was good at the free-throw line when it needed to be, making its last five from the charity stripe to seal the win.
Highlights
MVP: Otega Oweh
Easy. Oweh was the best player on the floor Saturday. Of his 23 points, 20 came in the second half. It was a gritty effort from the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, making 6-of-12 shots from the field and going 10-of-13 from the free-throw line.
After two quick fouls sat him most of the first half, Oweh made sure his second half would be one to remember, and Kentucky needed every bit of it to pull off the victory.
Box Score
Kentucky vs. Ole Miss Twitter Reactions
Big Blue Nation was ready to go today, even with the early start time and inclement weather. Here are the best reactions from Big Blue Nation during today’s game.
