Basketball ***** Postgame Notes: UK vs. Oklahoma *****

[Jeff Drummond]

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
LLOYD NOBLE CENTER | NORMAN, OKLA.
FEBRUARY 26, 2025
ATTENDANCE: 10,162

FINAL SCORE: No. 17/23 Kentucky 83, Oklahoma 82

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is now 19-9 overall, 8-7 in the Southeastern Conference. Oklahoma is 17-11, 4-11 in the league
• Kentucky leads the series, 4-0. This marked Kentucky’s first ever game in Norman, as well as in the state of Oklahoma
• Mark Pope is 206-117 as head coach, including 19-9 at Kentucky.
• Kentucky returns to Rupp Arena on Saturday to face No. 1 Auburn. Tip time is set for 1 p.m. The game will air on ABC.

Team Notes

• Kentucky shot 50 percent from the floor (29-58). UK is 13-1 when shooting 50 percent or better
• Oklahoma shot 53 percent from the field (30-57)
  • It was Kentucky’s second win of the season and first in SEC play when shooting a lower percentage than their opponent
  • UK is 2-4 this season when the opponent shoots over 50 percent
• The Cats won despite just two players (Oweh and Garrison) scoring double-figures, the fewest to reach double-figures in a game this season
• Kentucky was 7-23 from behind the 3-point arc (.304)
  • It matches the fewest made 3s in a win for Kentucky this season (Georgia State, Gonzaga)
• Wildcats improve to 3-6 in true road games on the season
• Oklahoma did not register a single blocked shot on the night, the third time a Kentucky opponent has gone without a block this season and the first time in SEC play
• The Cats forced 15 Sooner turnovers on the night tied for the most by an opponent in an SEC game this season (Mississippi State, at Alabama)

Player Notes

• In his return to Oklahoma, Otega Oweh scored a career-high 28 points, 23 of which came in the second half
  • It was his ninth game with 20 or more points this season
  • He scored 21 of Kentucky’s last 23 points on the night
  • He added six boards
  • Oweh played his first two collegiate seasons at Oklahoma
  • The 28 points were the most by a Kentucky player against their former school all-time
• Brandon Garrison finished with 12 points and knocked down a career-best two 3-pointers
  • Garrison tied a season-high with three steals
• Jaxson Robinson returned to the lineup and scored seven points, all in the first half
  • He has made a 3-pointer in 21 straight games in which he has appeared
• Lamont Butler also returned from injury and had seven points, six assists and four rebounds
  • His six assists mark the fifth time he has had at least six helpers in the nine SEC games in which he has appeared
• Koby Brea scored nine points and led the team with seven rebounds, tying a season-high in boards
  • It is the first game in which he has led the team in rebounds this season
• Travis Perry had five points and knocked down a 3-pointer
  • He has hit a triple in five consecutive games and seven of the last eight

In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starters were Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Otega Oweh, Andrew Carr and Amari Williams. It is the first time Kentucky has used this starting lineup, its most frequent this season, since Jan. 18 vs. Alabama. UK is 13-4 with this starting lineup
• First subs were Travis Perry and Koby Brea at 16:07
• The Cats jumped out to a 17-8 lead, its largest of the first half, with 11:40 to go
• Kentucky led 43-41 at the half. UK is 16-1 this season when leading at the break
• Brea had a team-high nine points in the first half
• UK scored 20 bench points in the opening frame
• The Wildcats led for 15:37 in the opening 20 minutes. The half featured two ties and three lead changes
• Both teams were an identical 15-31 (.484) from the field in the first half

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with Butler, Brea, Oweh, Carr and Williams
• Jaxson Robinson did not play in the second half due to injury
• UK built an 8-point advantage at 52-44 with 17:30 to play
• The Sooners tied the game at 60 with 12:12 remaining, and retook the lead, 64-63 with 10:44 on the clock
• There were six ties over the final 12:12 of the contest
• The game saw five lead changes over the last five minutes
• Otega Oweh scored Kentucky’s final 18 points on the night and 21 of its last 23, including the go-ahead basket with six seconds to go
• Oweh proceeded to block Jeremiah Fears’ last second attempt to seal the win