Chandler, Oweh Lead Kentucky Past No. 25 Vandy
Collin Chandler scored a career-high 23 points, and Otega Oweh also scored 23, as Kentucky topped No. 25 Vanderbilt 91-77 on Saturday at Rupp Arena.
Denzel Aberdeen had 15 points for the Cats, while Malachi Moreno had 11.
UK made 11 of 22 from behind the arc and 20 of 25 at the free throw line in the contest. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt made just 7 of 28 from three-point range, and while they did make 91 percent of their free throws, the ‘Dores had only 11 attempts at the charity stripe.
Kentucky (19-10, 10-6 Southeastern Conference) got on the board first via a Moreno putback. Vandy hit a three to take the lead but Chandler responded with a three of his own and the Cats led 5-3. The Commodores tied the game but Chandler hit another three, then Oweh scored on a steal and dunk to make it 10-5. The ‘Dores would hit a three to get back within two.
Andrija Jelavic converted a three-point play, then hit a three-point basket to extend the lead to 16-8. Vandy scored but Oweh answered to make the lead eight again. After the ‘Dores scored, Chandler hit his third three of the game and UK led 21-12. Vanderbilt scored to get within seven.
Chandler hit another three to stretch the lead to 24-14 and, after a Vandy basket, Aberdeen scored five straight to give UK a 29-16 lead, and when Oweh made a breakaway dunk, Kentucky led by 15. Vandy scored to stop the run, but Jasper Johnson hit a three from the wing to build the lead to 34-18. Aberdeen followed with a three before Vandy scored to cut the UK lead to 37-20.
Moreno scored three in a row to stretch the lead to 20 before Vandy scored on a layup. Garrison answered and the Cats led 42-22. However, the ‘Dores scored seven in a row to get within 13. Chandler ended that run with his fifth three of the half, and UK led 45-29. The Cats led 46-31 at the break.
Vanderbilt scored the first points of the second half, but Oweh quickly answered for the Cats. After a Vandy three, UK got two free throws from Aberdeen and two more from Moreno to lead 52-36. An Aberdeen three made the lead 19, but the Commodores scored five in a row to cut the UK lead to 55-41.
Chandler’s sixth three of the game gave the Cats a 17-point lead. Vandy would get back within 15, but UK assembled an 8-2 run to lead 67-46.
Vanderbilt would continue to chip away at the UK lead, eventually getting within 14, including at the final horn.
Kentucky returns to action on Tuesday, visiting Texas A&M in College Station. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on ESPN2.
