What Really Happened With the Kentucky Game Last Night
If you turned off the TV at halftime, nobody would’ve blamed you. Honestly, it looked like the Kentucky Wildcats were about to get run out of Baton Rouge. But in a finish that’s going to be replayed in Lexington for a long time, Kentucky pulled off a massive comeback to beat LSU 75-74 on Wednesday night.
It wasn't just a win; it was a 15-round heavyweight fight that ended with a knockout at the bell.
The hero of the night? Malachi Moreno. The freshman big man caught a desperation "homerun" inbound pass and sunk a 17-foot jumper right as the buzzer sounded. It was cold. It was clinical. And it basically snatched victory from the jaws of what would have been a very embarrassing defeat for Mark Pope's squad.
The 18-Point Mountain
Let's be real—the first half was a total disaster for Kentucky. LSU came out swinging, jumping to an 18-3 lead while the Wildcats couldn't buy a bucket. At one point, Kentucky was shooting a dismal 27% from the floor. By the time they headed to the locker room down 38-22, the "bubble team" talk was getting loud on social media.
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LSU’s Marquel Sutton was lighting it up, and for the first 20 minutes, the Tigers looked like the superior team in every facet. They were more physical, faster to the ball, and seemed to have Kentucky completely figured out.
The Second Half Inferno
Whatever Mark Pope said in that locker room worked. Kentucky didn't just play better; they became a completely different team.
The Wildcats exploded for 53 points in the second half. Otega Oweh was the engine, finishing with 21 points and hitting timely shots whenever the momentum felt like it was slipping away. Denzel Aberdeen chipped in 17, and suddenly that 18-point deficit started to shrink.
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Kentucky's three-point shooting went from ice-cold to white-hot, hitting 8-of-11 from deep after the break. They finally took their first lead of the game with about four minutes left, and from there, it was a chaotic trade of baskets that felt like peak SEC basketball.
The Final 1.6 Seconds
The ending was pure insanity. LSU had just taken a 74-73 lead, and with less than two seconds left, Kentucky had to go the length of the floor. The Tigers put a man on the ball to disrupt the pass, but the Wildcats managed to launch a long ball over the defense.
Moreno tracked it down, stayed composed, and let it fly.
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The officials spent several minutes reviewing the footage, and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was dead silent. When they finally signaled the basket was good, the Kentucky bench mobbed Moreno at center court. It was a "where were you" kind of moment for a season that has been a bit of a roller coaster.
Why This Win Changes Everything
For those following the bracketology updates, this was a massive "Quad 1" opportunity. Even though LSU has struggled in conference play, they’ve stayed high enough in the NET rankings to make this a gold-star win for Kentucky on the road.
Before this, the Wildcats were 10-6 and reeling from losses to Alabama and Missouri. This two-game winning streak (following their win over Mississippi State) has them at 11-6 and 2-2 in the SEC. It basically kept their season from falling off the rails before a brutal stretch of road games.
Who Won the Kentucky Game Last Night: Key Stats
- Final Score: Kentucky 75, LSU 74
- Leading Scorer: Otega Oweh (21 points)
- The Game-Winner: Malachi Moreno (17-foot jumper at the buzzer)
- The Comeback: Overcame an 18-point second-half deficit
- Current Record: 11-6 (2-2 SEC)
Next Steps for the Wildcats
If you're a Kentucky fan, you can't breathe easy just yet. The schedule is absolutely relentless from here.
- Prep for Tennessee: The Cats head to Knoxville on Saturday, January 17th. That’s a 12:00 PM ET tip-off that will be a massive test of whether this comeback momentum is actually real.
- Monitor the NET Rankings: Keep an eye on how LSU performs. As long as they stay in the top 75, this win remains a "Quad 1" on Kentucky's resume, which is vital for Selection Sunday.
- Watch the Injury Report: The team is still playing shorthanded, and seeing how Mark Pope manages the rotation against the physical defense of Tennessee will be the story of the weekend.
The Wildcats have shown they have the heart to come back from nearly 20 points down on the road. Now they just need to prove they can start a game as well as they finish one.