Kentucky-Vanderbilt Postgame Notes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM  | NASHVILLE, TENN.
JANUARY 27, 2026
ATTENDANCE: 10,195

Final Score: No. 18/15 Vanderbilt 80, (RV) Kentucky 55

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 14-7 overall, 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference, ending a five-game winning streak.
• Vanderbilt is 18-3 overall, 5-3 in the SEC.
• Kentucky leads the series, 158-51, including 62-29 in games played in Nashville.
• Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats conclude their two-game road swing Saturday at Arkansas. Game time is 6:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Central in Fayetteville) and it will be televised on ESPN.

Player Notes  

• Otega Oweh had 20 points, his eighth 20-point game of the season, all coming in the last 12 games.
  • He has tallied at least 20 in six of eight SEC games.
  • He has scored in double figures in all 21 games this season. He has a total streak of 24 games dating back to last season.
  • He is the first Kentucky player to have two 20-point games against Vanderbilt in Nashville since Tayshaun Prince in 2001 and 2002.
  • He also led the team tonight in assists and steals with three each.
    • The team leader in steals, it is the sixth game this season he has had at least three swipes.
  • Denzel Aberdeen notched 15 points. He has hit double figures in 14 games this season, including five of the last six.
  • Malachi Moreno had four points and led the team in rebounding with eight.
  • Mo Dioubate had two points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots.
    • He tied Moreno for the most blocked shots in a game this season.
  • Kentucky is currently missing Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe because of injury. Lowe is out for the season.

In the First Half

• Kentucky started the combination of Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, Otega Oweh, Andrija Jelavic and Malachi Moreno for the second consecutive game.
• UK’s first substitution was Mo Dioubate at 17:53.
• Vanderbilt jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Chandler got UK on the board with a pair of foul shots at the 16:09 mark.
• Vanderbilt pushed the lead to 17 points at 29-12.
• Kentucky cut the gap to 30-19 but Vanderbilt responded with a 11-0 spurt for their largest lead of the half at 41-19.
• Sparked by seven 3-pointers, Vanderbilt led 43-23 at halftime.
  • Aberdeen led UK with 10 points and Dioubate collected seven rebounds.
  • UK is now 4-6 this season when trailing at halftime.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky opened with the starters.
• Vanderbilt took its largest lead of 28 points at 63-35 and 72-44.