Kentucky-Western Kentucky Postgame Notes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY
NOV. 26, 2024
ATTENDANCE: 20,049

Final Score: No. 8 Kentucky 87, WKU 68

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 6-0 and WKU is 3-3.
• Kentucky leads the series 6-2 and has won the last three meetings.
  • This was the first time Mark Pope has faced WKU as a head coach.
• Mark Pope is now 193-108 as a head coach, including 6-0 at Kentucky.
• The Wildcats conclude their four-game homestand Friday against Georgia State. The tip time is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network.

Team Notes

• Kentucky has a 6-0 start for the first time since the 2016-17 team won its first seven.
• The Cats are 5-0 inside Rupp Arena on the year and have scored a total of 495 points, good for an average of 99 per home contest.
• Kentucky had its best defensive performance of the young season.
  • WKU shot 31.8% from the field (21 of 66), lowest by a UK opponent this year.
  • WKU shot 15.4% 3-pointers (4 of 26), also lowest by a UK opponent this year.
  • UK has held the opponent under 20% on 3-pointers in five of six games; UK foes are now at 21.2% on the season from long range.
• Kentucky controlled the rebounding, 54-41, and has won the rebounding in five of six games this season. In the other game, UK trailed Duke by only one board.
• Kentucky made 29 of 42 foul shots tonight, season highs in both categories.
• Entering the game leading the nation in assists, UK had 16 tonight. The Wildcats are now averaging 20.8 helpers per game.
  • The Cats have an assist rate of 61.9% for the season with 125 assists on 202 made FGs.
• UK had balanced scoring with seven Wildcats scoring at least eight points.

Player Notes 

• Andrew Carr totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds, season highs in both categories.
  • It is his first double-double of the season and 12^th of his career.
• Otega Oweh scored 18 points and led the team in plus/minus with a +22 mark.
  • He has scored double figures in every game this season.
• Lamont Butler had 14 points, his third straight game in double figures, and had a game-high-tying four assists with no turnovers.
• Jaxson Robinson finished with eight points, six rebounds and tied Butler with a game-high four assists.
  • Robinson has made two or more 3s in every game but one this season.
• Koby Brea had nine points on 3-of-7 three-pointers. He has hit multiple 3s in every game this season.
  • Brea is now 23-of-34 from long range this season, 67.6%.
• Amari Williams finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and a season-high four blocked shots.
  • He has led or tied for the team lead in rebounding in every game this season.

In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starters were Lamont Butler, Otega Oweh, Jaxson Robinson, Andrew Carr andAmari Williams for the sixth consecutive game.
  • First subs were Koby Brea and Brandon Garrison at 15:57.
• Carr opened the scoring with a dunk on the game’s first possession.
• Tied at seven, a 7-0 UK run gave the Wildcats a lead they did not relinquish.
• Kentucky built a 16-point lead at 41-25 but an 8-0 WKU spurt halved the advantage.
• UK took a 45-33 lead into halftime as Carr drove the Cats with 11 points and 7 rebounds.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starting lineup.
• Two quick baskets coaxed a WKU timeout at 18:59 and the Hilltoppers responded with an 8-2 run, narrowing the margin to 50-41.
• A 6-0 WKU spurt drew the visitors within 57-51 at the 11:54 mark.
• Over the next three-plus minutes, UK went on a 14-4 ramble to rebuild a 71-55 lead.
• Kentucky led by as many as 21 points at 85-64.