No. 25 Kentucky Falls at No. 14 Florida on Saturday
Denzel Aberdeen scored 19 points, but No. 25 Kentucky lost at No. 14 Florida 92-83 on Saturday in Gainesville.
Kentucky (17-8, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) got a career-high-tying 18 points from Collin Chandler and 13 from Otega Oweh. Freshman Malachi Moreno had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Cats.
Turnovers were key in Saturday’s game. Kentucky committed 14 turnovers and Florida turned those into 25 points. The Gators had 11 turnovers and the Cats were only able to convert those into 12 points.
Florida (19-6, 10-2) scored the first five points before Aberdeen got UK on the board. The Gators responded by scoring the next five to lead 10-2.
Chandler hit a three to get the Cats within five, but the Gators scored on the other end to lead by seven. An Andrija Jelavic fadeaway cut the deficit to 12-7. After Florida hit two free throws, Chandler made one-of-two to cut the UF lead to 14-8. The Gators answered with eight in a row to lead by 14.
Moreno scored on a putback to cut the UF lead to 22-10, but Florida responded with a bucket of its down. Jasper Johnson hit a three to cut the deficit to 11 before Oweh scored underneath to cut the deficit to 24-15. After the Gators scored, Oweh hit an elbow jumper to again get UK within nine. Florida scored the next six to lead 32-17.
Jelavic hit two free throws, then Oweh scored on a layup, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for his UK career, as UK cut the deficit to 32-21. Aberdeen hit a three, then a jumper to cut the deficit to 32-26. A Mo Dioubate free throw got the Cats within five, but Florida scored to lead 34-27.
Aberdeen scored again but Florida hit a three to lead 37-29. Dioubate made three-of-four at the line to get UK within five, 37-32. The Gators scored the next four before Oweh scored again to cut the UF lead to 41-34. Florida scored the final two points of the half and the Gators led 43-34 at the break.
Aberdeen scored the first two points of the second half with a pair of free throws. Chandler hit a three and Moreno scored on a dunk and UK was within two, 43-41. Florida got a three-point play and a three-point basket to lead by eight, but Aberdeen scored to cut the deficit to 49-43. The Gators hit a free throw to lead by seven before Jelavic hit a three to make it 50-46. Florida would score the next four to lead by eight.
Oweh made a free throw to cut the deficit to seven, the Dioubate scored at the rim to cut the UF lead to 54-49. Florida scored but Dioubate converted in the lane and the Gator lead was 56-51. Florida then hit a three to lead by eight.
Johnson hit a three to cut the deficit to 59-54 but Florida scored four in a row to lead by nine. Two Oweh free throws got the Cats within seven but Florida responded again with a basket to lead by nine.
Moreno scored on an acrobatic layup to make it 65-58 but Florida scored the next nine to lead by 16. A Chandler basket ended the run but Florida hit a free throw to lead by 15. Moreno converted a three-point play and Aberdeen scored to cut the Florida lead to 75-65. The Gators hit a three to lead by 13 but Chandler answered to make it 78-68.
Aberdeen scored to cut the deficit to 78-70 with 3:30 remaining, but Florida hit a three to lead by 11. Chandler hit a three to get the Cats back within eight but the Gators scored underneath to lead by 10 with 2:25 left.
From there, Kentucky would keep chipping away, eventually getting within five with 36 seconds left. However, the Cats would get no closer.
Kentucky returns to action on Tuesday, hosting Georgia at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on ESPN.
