Kentucky-Eastern Illinois Postgame Notes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY.
NOVEMBER 14, 2025
ATTENDANCE: 20,000

Final Score: No. 9/8 Kentucky 99, Eastern Illinois 53

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 3-1 on the season and Eastern Illinois is now 1-3.
• This was the first meeting between the schools in men’s basketball.
• The Wildcats’ next game is Tuesday, Nov. 18, vs. Michigan State in the annual State Farm Champions Classic. The game will be played in Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Game time is 6:30 pm and it will be televised on ESPN.

Team Notes

• With tonight’s win, Kentucky is champion of the BBN United Tipoff Classic with a 3-0 record.  The multi-team event was presented by Kentucky Tourism.
• Kentucky held Eastern Illinois to 53 points.
  • UK is now 15-0 under Pope when holding the opponent under 70 points.
• Kentucky limited EIU to 32.7 percent shooting and UK has limited three of four opponents to 32.7 percent or less.
• Kentucky shot a season-best 60.9 percent from the field.
• Kentucky won the rebounding 49-17.  UK has outrebounded all four opponents and now has a rebound margin of +17.8 per game.
• All 10 players who handled the bulk of the playing time also scored.

Player Notes 

• Mouhamed Dioubate led all players with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
  • It is his first double-double at Kentucky and seventh of his career.
• Denzel Aberdeen tallied 13 points and has scored double figures in all four games.
• Otega Owehscored 12 points and has landed in double figures in all four games.
• Andrija Jelavic had season highs with 11 points and seven rebounds.
• Malachi Moreno had 11 points and six rebounds.
• Jasper Johnson had eight points and his seven assists are most by a Wildcat this season.
• After missing two games, Trent Noah returned to action and chipped in eight points.
• Collin Chandler was named Most Valuable Player of the BBN United Tipoff Classic. He averaged 11 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1 blocked shot over the three-game set.  He made 52.9 percent of his 3-pointers, hitting 9 of 17.
• Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance missed the game because of injury.

In the First Half

• Kentucky started Denzel Aberdeen, Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, Mo Dioubate and Brandon Garrison, for the third game in a row.
• Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno were UK’s first subs at the 15:53 mark.
• Dioubate scored on the opening possession, Eastern Illinois tied it, then a Garrison layup began a 13-0 run that put the Wildcats ahead for good.
• Kentucky added another 13-0 spurt that moved the score to 32-13.
• Kentucky took a 47-19 lead into the locker room.
  • Dioubate led all scorers and rebounders with 10 and six, respectively.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starters.
• Kentucky led by as many as 47 points on three occasions before notching the final 46-point margin.