Kentucky-Bellarmine Postgame Notes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY
DECEMBER 23, 2025
ATTENDANCE: 19,706

Final Score: (RV) Kentucky 99, Bellarmine 85

Team Records and Series Notes

Kentucky won its fourth game in a row – the longest streak of the season – and is 9-4. Bellarmine is 5-7.
Kentucky leads the series, 2-0. The teams’ first matchup was a 60-41 Wildcat win on Nov. 29, 2022.
Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats celebrate the holidays with a 12-day gap between games. The first game of the new year is Saturday, January 3, at Alabama. Tipoff is set for noon ET (11 a.m. Central time in Tuscaloosa) and it will be televised by ESPN.

Team Notes

This was the first time Kentucky shot at least 65 percent on two-pointers and 53 percent on three-pointers since Feb. 24, 2024 vs. Alabama.
UK shot 58.9 percent from the field, the fifth time this season UK has made at least 50 percent.
Kentucky made a season-high 16 3-pointers. It is only one shy of the high of 17 threes under Coach Mark Pope, set last season vs. Jackson State.
- UK is 6-0 this season, and 19-3 under Pope, when making double-digit threes.
- UK hit a season-best 53.3 percent on long balls, 16 of 30.
Five Wildcats scored in double figures, the sixth time this season that has been accomplished, all wins.
Two Wildcats hit the 20-point mark today, second time this season that has happened.
Kentucky won the rebounding, 29-26, and the Wildcats are 8-1 this season when winning the boardwork.
Kentucky had 24 assists today and is 7-0 this season when having 15 or more.
Two Wildcats had seven or more assists, first time that has happened since Rob Dillingham and Tre Dillingham did so vs. Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 28, 2023.
Kentucky won today despite Bellarmine shooting 52 percent from the field. It is the third under Pope (also last season vs. Florida and at Oklahoma) that UK won despite the opponent making at least 50 percent field goals.
The Wildcats are now 2-0 with all players available; Jaland Lowe did not play but was available, held out for precautionary reasons.

Player Notes

Sparked by a career-high eight 3-pointers, Kam Williams tossed in a career-high 26 points.
- The 26 points tied the most for a Wildcat this season.
- He made 8 of 10 on 3-pointers. His 80 percent tied the single-game record (minimum 10 attempts) as Jamal Murray also hit 8 of 10 vs. Florida on Feb. 6, 2016.
- His eight 3-pointers is the most since Immanuel Quickley hit eight at Texas A&M on Feb. 25, 2020.
- He is the fifth Wildcat to score at least 20 points in a game this season.
Otega Oweh totaled 10 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and two steals today, only the second player in school history to assemble such a stat line, joining De’Aaron Fox, who did so vs. Arizona State on Nov. 28, 2016.
- He has scored in double figures in all 13 games this season. He has a total streak of 16 games dating back to last season.
- 10 assists is a career high and most by a Wildcat this season.
- Eight rebounds is a season high.
- He has had at least two thefts in eight straight games, the longest streak of his career.
- Oweh led the team in plus/minus with a +14.
Mo Dioubate tied his season high with 20 points, making 9 of 11 from the field.
- He also tied his career high for blocked shots with three rejections.
Denzel Aberdeen tallied 14 points, his ninth double-figure game of the season.
Jasper Johnson notched 11 points, his third double-figure game of the season, and tied his season best for assists with seven.
Jaland Lowe was held out for precautionary reasons.

In the First Half

Kentucky started the combination of Denzel Aberdeen, Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, Mo Dioubate and Malachi Moreno for the second consecutive game.
UK’s first substitutions were Jayden Quaintance and Jasper Johnson at 15:42.
After four ties and four lead changes, the game was knotted at 19 with 10:20 left.
At that point, Johnson broke the tie with a 3-pointer with 10:12 on the clock and the Wildcats led for the remainder of the game.
Kentucky scored the last five points to take a 46-38 advantage into the locker room.
- UK’s balanced attack was led by Kam Williams and Johnson with eight points each and Oweh and Dioubate with seven apiece.
- UK is now 7-0 this season when leading at halftime.

In the Second Half

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