Otega Oweh led the Kentucky Wildcats with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory as they fell to the Missouri Tigers 73-68 at Rupp Arena on Wednesday night.
In addition to Oweh’s standout performance, Jaland Lowe and Malachi Moreno contributed nine points each, while Mo Dioubate and Kam Williams each added eight points to the scoreboard. The Wildcats started strong with a basket from Denzel Aberdeen, but the Tigers quickly responded, taking a brief lead.
The back-and-forth nature of the contest became evident early on, with Oweh tying the game at six after sinking free throws. Soon after, a dunk from Moreno brought the score to 10-9 in favor of Kentucky, but Missouri’s three-point play propelled them into a 16-10 lead, starting a 7-0 scoring run.
Oweh and Dioubate managed to pull Kentucky even several times, with Oweh demonstrating remarkable skill, including a steal that resulted in a layup. However, Missouri’s ability to score consistently kept them in front. At halftime, the teams were closely contested, with Oweh leading all scorers with 13 points and Kentucky trailing by just one at 33-32.
The second half began with Kentucky edging ahead thanks to a couple of quick baskets, including a jumper from Lowe and layups by Aberdeen and Oweh. As they built a 41-35 advantage, Missouri responded with a scoring run that flipped the lead again. The Wildcats fought back, with Lowe hitting a critical three-pointer, giving Kentucky a slight edge.
The tension in the game escalated as both teams traded baskets. Kentucky pulled ahead again at 68-65 in the late minutes, but Missouri rallied, reclaiming the lead with under a minute left and sealing it with a series of free throws.
Despite the loss, Kentucky will look to bounce back when they host Mississippi State on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET, with the game available on the SEC Network. Fans remain hopeful that the Wildcats will regain their momentum and find success in the upcoming match.