Shorthanded Kentucky Falls at Texas on Saturday
Amari Williams had his eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but No. 15 Kentucky lost at Texas 82-78 on Saturday night in Austin. Williams added three assists, a block and a steal.
Otega Oweh continued his streak of double-digit scoring efforts with 20 points. Oweh has scored in double figures in all 25 games this season. It’s the longest such streak since Malik Monk accomplished the feat during the 2016-17 season.
Ansley Almonor had 11 points for the Cats, who made just 6 of 24 from beyond the arc in the game. UK played without two starters, Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, who missed the game due to injury.
Kentucky (17-8, 6-6 Southeastern Conference) scored the first two points on free throws by Williams. After Texas tied the game, Oweh and Almonor each made baskets and it was 6-2 Cats. A Travis Perry three extended the UK lead to 9-2 and forced a Texas timeout.
Texas (16-10, 5-8) would score the next six points to get within one but buckets from Andrew Carr and Brandon Garrison stretched the UK lead to 13-8. After a pair of baskets by Texas, an Oweh dunk made it 15-12 Kentucky. Texas would tie the game on a three but Williams answered with a basket that made it 17-15. However, the Longhorns scored the next five to lead 20-17.
Oweh scored to get the Cats within one, 20-19. However, Texas scored four in a row to lead 24-19, forcing a UK timeout. A Trent Noah bucket, then two Noah free throws made it 24-23 Texas. The Longhorns scored the next four before Williams hit his first three-pointer of the year to cut the deficit to 28-26. The Longhorns scored the next basket and led 30-26.
A pair of Almonor free throws got the Cats within two again, and an Almonor putback tied the game at 30-30. After a Texas basket, Noah drilled a three to give the Cats a 33-32 lead. The run continued when Garrison scored on an alley-oop pass from Noah, and Oweh scored at the basket, making it 37-32.
Texas would answer by scoring the next five points to tie the game. Almonor hit two free throws and Williams scored on a putback to give UK a 41-37 advantage. That would be the halftime score.
Williams scored the first two points of the second half. After a Texas bucket, Oweh scored underneath and the Cats led 45-39. After Texas cut it to 45-41, Almonor hit a three from the corner and UK led 48-41. However, the Longhorns answered with five straight to get within two, 48-46.
Carr hit two free throws to make it 50-46, but Texas responded with an 8-1 run to lead 54-51. A pair of Koby Brea free throws got the Cats within one, 54-53. Texas would lead 58-55 before UK got a free throw from Williams and two from Brea to tie the game at 58-58 with 8:44 to play.
A Williams free throw gave UK a 59-58 advantage, but Texas answered with a pair of charity tosses to lead 60-59. Oweh hit a tough shot in the lane to make it 61-60 UK. Williams then scored underneath and Carr followed, giving UK a 65-60 lead. However, the Longhorns hit a three to get within two, 65-63.
An Oweh steal and dunk gave the Cats a 67-63 lead. After a Texas free throw, Williams scored on a putback and Kentucky led 69-64. A Texas three-point play cut the UK lead to two before an Oweh free throw made it 70-67. However, Texas scored the next seven and the Longhorns led 76-70 with 45 seconds remaining. Two more free throws closed out the 14-1 run that put the game away.
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
