Oweh, Moreno Lead Cats Past Bulldogs on Saturday
Otega Oweh scored 22 points, had five assists, five steals and three rebounds as Kentucky beat Mississippi State 92-68 on Saturday night at Rupp Arena.
Freshman Malachi Moreno made 8 of 10 from the floor on his way to 17 points. He added eight rebounds, six assists and four steals, becoming just the third UK player since 1996-97 to have those numbers (Rajon Rondo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander).
Kentucky (10-6, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) got 16 points from Denzel Aberdeen and 14 from Kam Williams.
Mississippi State (10-6, 2-1) scored first but Kentucky tied the game on a a Moreno half hook in the lane. MSU took the lead back before an Oweh dunk tied the game at 4-4. The Bulldogs answered with a three, a basket and two free throws to lead by seven.
Aberdeen scored in the lane to make it 11-6, but MSU got a three and two layups to lead by 12.
Aberdeen hit four consecutive free throws to make it 18-10, but MSU scored to make it 20-10. A Williams three got the Cats within seven, but the Bulldogs scored four in a row to lead by 11. Williams scored again, but the Bulldogs had an answer and led 26-15.
Brandon Garrison scored underneath to get UK within seven, but the Bulldogs responded with a basket of their own. An Oweh steal and dunk, followed by an Oweh three got the Cats within six, 28-22.
A Williams steal and score got UK within four before Williams scored again, followed by a Jasper Johnson three that completed a 12-0 run that gave Kentucky a 29-28 lead. MSU took the lead back on two free throws, but an Oweh layup gave UK a 31-30 advantage.
Moreno scored on a steal and layup to give the Cats a three-point lead, but MSU scored to get within one. Moreno scored again, this time on a follow dunk, and Kentucky led 35-32. However, the Bulldogs ran off four straight before Moreno scored again to give UK a 37-36 lead.
After the Bulldogs took a 38-37 lead, Collin Chandler hit a three to give UK a two-point lead. A Moreno putback made it 42-38. After an MSU free throw, Chandler scored again and the Cats took a 44-39 lead into the break. Moreno led the Cats with 10 points in the first half.
Mississippi State scored the first four points of the second half, but Mo Dioubate scored and UK led 46-43. A Moreno putback gave the Cats a 48-43 before the Bulldogs cut it to three. A pair of Williams free throws made it 50-45, but MSU answered again to get within three.
Moreno hit one-of-two at the line to extend the lead to four. After MSU got within two, Aberdeen hit a corner three and UK led 54-49. MSU scored to get within three again, but Oweh scored on a steal and dunk to give the Cats a 56-51 lead.
After an MSU basket, Aberdeen hit a three and UK led 59-53 with 12:38 remaining. The Bulldogs scored again, but two Chandler free throws gave Kentucky a 61-55 lead. An Oweh bucket extended the lead to eight, but MSU answered with a three to make it 63-58.
Aberdeen scored near the rim to stretch the lead to seven before Garrison scored on a fast-break dunk, off a pass from Chandler, to give UK a 67-58 advantage with 10:24 to play. After MSU scored, Garrison got loose underneath for a dunk, giving UK a 69-60 advantage. MSU hit two free throws to get the Bulldogs within seven.
Oweh then scored on a steal and dunk, followed by a three, and the Cats led 74-62 with 7:35 to play. After an MSU free throw, Williams hit a three that ignited an 13-2 run that gave the Cats an 87-65 lead.
UK would lead by as many as 23
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday, visiting LSU in Baton Rouge. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
