Did you expect Kentucky Basketball to coast against the Missouri Tigers?
Up 16 with 14:33 remaining, Missouri somehow battled all the way back to take the lead with just over two minutes remaining.
Thankfully, Kentucky’s defense clamped down, and its offense did just enough down the stretch to hold on for a 78-72 win.
Everybody exhale. And get ready for a Quarterfinals matchup against Florida on Friday afternoon.
First Half
Kentucky’s intensity was evident early on, getting Missouri’s leading shot-blocker, Shawn
Phillips Jr., to pick up two fouls in the first 2:58. The Wildcats took advantage by leading 9-7 through the first 5:28.
The Cats unleashed a 7-0 run to take a 14-7 lead, which Missouri answered with a 5-0 run of their own to cut the lead to 14-12. They would eventually draw two fouls on Denzel Aberdeen, sending him to the bench. But the Cats were able to weather the storm and stay in front, taking a 28-20 lead.
They would extend it with a Kam Williams 3-pointer and Otgea Oweh jumper off a steal by Aberdeen. Big Blue Nation was on its feet, and Bridgestone Arena was rocking. The Cats led 35-24 at the under-four media timeout and 2:50 to play in the first half.
Despite shooting just 2-11 from three-point range in the first half, Kentucky still managed to build a lead as many as 12 points. Missouri shot just 2-7 from three-point range.
In addition, Kentucky had just four turnovers to 10 assists in the first half. They also forced seven Missouri turnovers and held the Tigers to just two assists.
Second Half
Collin Chandler got the Cats on the board with a three-pointer, the start of a 7-2 run to extend the Cats’ lead to 45-31 2:20 into the second half. The Cats got up as many as 16 with 14:33 remaining, but a 7-0 Missouri run, going 5-6 from the floor, made it 53-44 with 12:57 remaining.
Otega Oweh, though, answered with a three from the corner, his second of the half. But Missouri then started to cut into the deficit, making shots and getting easy looks at the rim. A 6-0 run made it 58-53 with 10:28 remaining.
The lead got down to three at 60-57 with just over eight minutes to play, which would hold at the under-eight media timeout.
Collin Chandler hit a huge three-pointer to put Kentucky back up 63-57, followed by an Oweh jumper to make it 65-58.
The Cats then turned the heat up on the offensive glass, leading to two Denzel Aberdeen free throws.
But no matter how much Kentucky led by, Missouri wouldn’t go away. They trailed just 69-68 with 2:51 remaining. After the Tigers took a 70-69 lead, Aberdeen made two free throws to reclaim the lead for the Cats at 71-70. Oweh followed with a running bank shot to make it 73-70 with 1:06 to play.
After a stop, Kentucky got another Aberdeen bucket to extend the lead to 75-70 with 22.5 seconds to play.
Missouri missed a wide-open lay-up on their ensuing possession, giving Otega Oweh a chance to ice the game at the free-throw line. He made one of two to put the Cats up 76-70.
Denzel Aberdeen made two free throws to ice the game and give Kentucky a 78-72 win.
Highlights
MVP: Otega Oweh
Oweh started quietly, but he finished strong. After scoring just six points in the first half, Oweh came out and played a great second half. That’s what you want from your best player and leading scorer. Oweh finished with 21 points, 15 in the second half. He also made two three-pointers in the second half.
Box Score
Kentucky vs. Missouri Twitter Reactions
Big Blue Nation was all over this one. Here are the best reactions from Big Blue Nation during Thursday’s game.
