Kentucky Basketball Stuns No. 25 Tennessee 74-71 as Otega Oweh Fuels Second Half Rally in Lexington

Kentucky erased a 14 point halftime deficit and completed a season sweep of No. 25 Tennessee with a 74-71 victory Saturday night at Rupp Arena in a result that reshapes the SEC standings and NCAA Tournament outlook.

In this breaking update from Lexington, Otega Oweh led Kentucky with 21 points as the Wildcats improved to 17-7 overall and 8-3 in SEC play. Kentucky outscored Tennessee 41-24 in the second half, delivering one of its most efficient defensive stretches of conference competition.

The latest timeline shifted dramatically after halftime. Tennessee built a 14 point lead behind freshman forward Nate Ament, who scored 19 of his career high 29 points in the first half. Ament sparked a 14-4 run with 11 consecutive points, including three 3 point field goals, giving the Volunteers a 28-18 advantage with seven minutes left before the break. Tennessee entered halftime in full control before Kentucky tightened its perimeter defense and increased ball pressure.

Kentucky led for only four minutes all night, but its execution in the final possessions proved decisive. Collin Chandler buried a 3 point shot with 32 seconds remaining to give the Wildcats a 71-69 edge. After a defensive stop, Denzel Aberdeen converted two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to secure the 74-71 final margin. Aberdeen finished with 16 points, while Malachi Moreno added 10.

Tennessee, now 16-7 overall and 6-4 in SEC play, received 15 points from Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 11 from J P Estrella, and 10 from Bishop Boswell. Despite strong first half shooting, the Volunteers struggled to generate consistent offense after the break as Kentucky forced contested attempts and limited clean perimeter looks.

The impact of this result is significant in the conference race. Kentucky previously defeated Tennessee 80-78 in Knoxville on Jan. 17, marking the first regular season sweep of the Volunteers in several years. With this win, the Wildcats strengthen their position in the upper tier of the SEC standings while enhancing their postseason resume with another ranked victory.

The atmosphere added historical context. Kentucky honored its 1995-96 national championship team prior to tipoff and wore denim inspired uniforms associated with that title run. The ceremony created an emotional backdrop before a nationally significant matchup.

What this means moving forward centers on consistency. Kentucky demonstrated the ability to close against a ranked opponent despite trailing by double digits, a trait that often translates to postseason success. Tennessee, meanwhile, must address second half execution and late game shot creation as it navigates a competitive SEC schedule.

Next steps in the conference timeline are critical.

Tennessee travels to Mississippi State on Wednesday seeking to stabilize its SEC positioning. Kentucky faces another major test Saturday at No. 17 Florida, a game that could further define seeding implications in both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament outlook.