Basketball ***** Postgame Notes - Alabama 99, Kentucky 70 - SEC Q-finals *****

[Jeff Drummond]

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT | BRIDGESTONE ARENA | NASHVILLE TN
MARCH 14, 2025
ATTENDANCE: 18,608

FINAL SCORE: No. 5/8 Alabama 99, No. 15/19 Kentucky 70

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky ended a three-game win streak and is now 22-11 overall, while Alabama is now 25-7.
• Kentucky leads the series, 117-44, although Alabama won all three matchups this season.
  • Kentucky is now 17-3 vs. Alabama in SEC Tournament games.
  • Kentucky leads 6-1 in games played in Nashville.
• Mark Pope is 210-118 as head coach, including 22-11 at Kentucky.
• Kentucky returns home to await the NCAA Selection Show, televised Sunday at 6 p.m.

Kentucky in the SEC Tournament

• Kentucky is now 136-31 all-time in the SEC Tournament, including 17-3 vs. Alabama.
  • UK is 22-7 in SECT games played in Nashville, including 19-7 in the current arena.
• UK is 46-14 in the quarterfinal round of the tourney.

Team Notes

• Turnovers made the difference, as Alabama converted 16 UK turnovers into a 29-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
  • The turnovers also helped Alabama win fast-break points 19-3.
• With five 3-pointers tonight, UK now has 317 on the season, tying the 1991-92 team for third-most in a season in school history. The 1992-93 team holds the record with 340 made 3-pointers.

Player Notes

• Andrew Carr led the Wildcats with 18 points, only two points shy of his season high.
  • He is averaging 14.6 points over the last five games.
• Amari Williams notched 16 points and led the Wildcats in rebounds with seven and assists with four.
• Travis Perry had 11 points, only one away from his season best (12 at Alabama on Feb. 22), and had a season-high four rebounds.
• Lamont Butler did not play after being injured in Thursday night’s game but Coach Pope expressed optimism that he would be able to return.

In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starters were Travis Perry, Koby Brea, Otega Oweh, Andrew Carr and Amari Williams for the third time this season. UK is 1-2 with this lineup.
• First substitution was Collin Chandler at 16:21.
• Alabama scored the first four points.
• Kentucky missed its first five shots, then warmed to the task and made the next five, tying the game at 14.
• At that point, Alabama went on a 9-0 run for a 23-14 lead and led the remainder of the game.
• Alabama went to halftime ahead 45-38.
  • Turnovers told the tale of the first half as eight UK miscues led to a 14-2 Alabama advantage in points off turnovers.
  • UK is now 3-10 on the year when trailing at the half.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starters.
• Alabama came out hot with 12 quick points, building their then-largest lead at 57-44, and Kentucky called timeout at the 16:20 mark.
• The Tide continued the torrid pace, expanding the lead to 69-52 and coaxing another UK timeout at 12:30.
• Alabama got its largest lead at 97-67.