In a high-stakes SEC showdown, the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats nearly pulled off a seismic upset against No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night at Coleman Coliseum, falling just short in an 89-85 thriller. Despite missing starters Lamont Butler (shoulder) and Jaxson Robinson (wrist), Mark Pope’s squad showcased relentless grit against a Crimson Tide team riding a two-game losing streak.
Game Highlights
- Otega Oweh’s career night: The junior guard dropped 28 points, including 5 three-pointers, building on his team-leading 16.2 PPG average .
- Alabama’s free throw dominance: The Tide went 24/28 at the line compared to Kentucky’s 14/18 – a critical factor in their narrow victory .
- Dick Vitale’s emotional return: The legendary announcer called his first Kentucky game since 2022 after battling cancer, sharing an on-air moment with Coach Pope pre-game .
Key Absences Impact Both Sides
| Kentucky | Alabama |
|---|---|
| Lamont Butler (shoulder) | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. |
| Jaxson Robinson (wrist) | Derrion Reid |
| – | Houston Mallette |
The Wildcats (18-9, 7-7 SEC) now face must-win scenarios to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding, while Alabama (22-5, 11-3) clings to second place in the conference behind No. 1 Auburn . Kentucky’s next test comes Wednesday against Arkansas at Rupp Arena.
