The Wildcats, with out their second-leading scorer Lamont Butler, decide up an enormous convention highway win over No. 8 Tennessee, 78-73. 

Kentucky was powered by elite three-point capturing, going 12-24 from long-range within the win. Tennessee put up an absurd 45 three-pointers within the loss, connecting on simply 11. Star guards for the Vols, Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler, mixed for 4-21 from downtown. 

Kentucky held the lead nearly all the first half, earlier than an 11-0 run within the closing minutes of the primary put Tennessee up 33-30 on the break. Nonetheless, the Wildcats shortly regained the result in open the second half, and didn’t give up it the rest of the sport. In whole, Kentucky led for 35:20 in comparison with Tennessee’s 1:22 in entrance. 

It did not come with out scares although, as Kentucky went chilly down the stretch, conserving the Vols round. With 30 seconds to play, Chaz Lanier drilled a 3, slicing the Wildcat’s result in only one level, 74-73. However Kentucky knocked down its free throws in crunch time, and Tennessee was unable to attach from three on its subsequent possession. 

The Wildcats had been led offensively by Koby Brea, who dropped 18, together with 13 within the second half. Tennessee ahead Igor Miličić paced the sport in scoring, tallying 19 on 60% capturing. 

Kentucky (15-5, 4-3 SEC) snaps a two-game skid in an enormous method, climbing again above .500 in convention play. Tennessee (17-4, 4-4 SEC) has now dropped two straight video games, and they’re going to keep in Knoxville to tackle No. 5 Florida on Saturday.