If you turned off the TV at halftime during the Kentucky and Tennessee game on Saturday, January 17, 2026, I honestly don't blame you. Most of Big Blue Nation was probably ready to throw the remote through the screen. Tennessee was bullying them. It was ugly. But somehow, by the time the final buzzer echoed through a stunned Food City Center in Knoxville, the score of the uk basketball game sat at Kentucky 80, Tennessee 78.
Kentucky won.
They trailed by 17 points in the first half. They trailed for over 38 minutes of the game. In fact, the Wildcats only led for exactly 34 seconds. But those were the 34 seconds that mattered. This wasn't just a win; it was a daylight robbery in the heart of Volunteer country that moved UK to 12-6 on the season and 3-2 in the SEC.
How the Score of the UK Basketball Game Flipped
Tennessee came out like they were shot from a cannon. Ja’Kobi Gillespie was basically playing a different game than everyone else in the first twenty minutes, carving up Kentucky's defense for 14 points by the break. The Vols were physically dominating the glass, out-rebounding UK 20-12 in the first half. It felt like the Wildcats were stuck in mud.
Then came the second half.
Denzel Aberdeen decided he’d seen enough. After a quiet first half plagued by foul trouble, he exploded for 18 points in the second stanza. He finished with a team-high 22. It wasn’t just the scoring, though; it was the timing. Every time Tennessee threatened to push the lead back to double digits, Aberdeen or Collin Chandler seemed to find a pocket of space behind the arc. Chandler was a specialist on Saturday, hitting four triples to account for all 12 of his points.
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The Final Minutes were Pure Chaos
With under a minute left, Otega Oweh drove to the cup, converted a layup, and drew a foul to give Kentucky its first lead at 78-77. He missed the free throw, but Mo Dioubate—who was a monster on the boards all day with six rebounds and a team-high +16 rating—snatched the offensive board. That led to another Aberdeen layup to make it 80-77.
Tennessee had one last gasp. Gillespie got to the line with 2.6 seconds left. He made the first. He intentionally missed the second, and for a second, it looked like the plan worked perfectly. Jaylen Carey grabbed the rebound and went up for the tie.
Malachi Moreno had other plans.
The 7-footer, who had been quiet offensively with only 3 points, swatted the shot at the buzzer to seal the deal. It was his fourth block of the game. It was also the second time in four days he’s made the game-winning defensive play, following his heroics against LSU.
Key Stats from the Victory
The final numbers tell a story of grit over early execution. Kentucky didn't necessarily outplay Tennessee for the whole 40 minutes, but they won the "effort" categories when it counted.
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Kentucky actually lost the total rebound battle 36-29, but look at the second-chance points. UK won that category 19-7. That is essentially the entire game right there. When you shoot 45.8% from three-point range like the Cats did (11-of-24), you give yourself a chance. When you pair that with five players in double figures—Aberdeen, Oweh, Johnson, Chandler, and Dioubate—you become incredibly hard to guard down the stretch.
Why This Comeback is Different
This wasn't a fluke. Kentucky has now trailed by at least 12 points in three straight games and won all of them. They were down 18 to LSU earlier in the week. They were down 17 to Tennessee. It’s a stressful way to live, but this team seems to have a "clutch gene" that previous iterations lacked.
Specifically, they are now 7-0 this season when five or more players score in double digits. The depth is real. Jasper Johnson provided a huge spark off the bench with 12 points in the first half when the starters couldn't buy a bucket. Without his early contribution, the lead might have been 30 instead of 11 at the half.
What's Next for the Wildcats?
Kentucky heads back to Lexington now. They’ve got a massive two-game home stand starting Wednesday against Texas. That game is set for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network. Following that, they’ll face South Carolina.
The main concern right now is the health of Jayden Quaintance. He’s missed three straight games with a knee injury. While Moreno has stepped up in a huge way, getting Quaintance back in the rotation will be vital for the gauntlet that is the late-January SEC schedule.
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If you are looking for actionable takeaways from this game:
- Watch the starts: Kentucky's slow starts are a legitimate trend. If they don't fix the first-half intensity, one of these deficits is eventually going to be too large to climb out of.
- Monitor the bench: The Wildcats won the bench points 36-22 against Tennessee. This depth is their greatest weapon.
- Trust the veterans: Denzel Aberdeen has become the undisputed "closer" for this squad. In the last two road wins, he has been the catalyst for every major run.
Keep an eye on the injury report regarding Quaintance before the Texas game. If he's a go, Kentucky's interior defense becomes elite. If not, expect Moreno to play heavy minutes again. Either way, the score of the uk basketball game proved once again that you can never count this specific group out until the clock hits zero.
Go check the SEC standings; Kentucky is currently sitting in a much better position than anyone expected after that rough December stretch.
Next Steps: You can check the updated SEC standings to see where Kentucky ranks after this win or set a reminder for the UK vs. Texas tip-off this Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.