Kentucky Basketball Avoids Upset, Defeats Oklahoma in Rupp Arena
Kentucky basketball secured a crucial win against Oklahoma Friday night, defeating the Sooners 9 p.m. at Rupp Arena and avoiding a potential trap game.The Wildcats (15-7, 6-3 SEC) are now vying for their seventh SEC victory in the last eight contests, while Oklahoma (11-11, 1-8 Big 12) continues to struggle in conference play.
Oweh Oweh’s Consistent Performance Fuels Wildcats
Leading the charge for Kentucky has been senior guard Oveh Oweh Oweh, who has proven to be the team’s most reliable scorer. Oweh Oweh has reached double-digit points in an impressive 55 of his 58 games as a Wildcat, including all 22 games this season. Only 13 other Division I players can claim a similar streak of consistent scoring this winter. He is currently attempting to extend his streak to 26 consecutive games with 10 or more points, a run that began in the final three contests of the 2024-25 season.
Oweh Oweh’s impact was especially felt against his former team.Last season, he hit the game-winning basket in both matchups against oklahoma – once in Norman and again at the SEC Tournament in Nashville. His increased production since joining Kentucky is notable; averaging 8.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists with the Sooners, his Wildcat averages have jumped to 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.
First-Half Surge Sets the Tone
The Wildcats established a lead in the first half, holding a three-point advantage (35-32) in the final minutes. A strong finish, fueled by an 8-0 run, pushed their lead to 11 points at the end of the opening 20 minutes. Kentucky shot 14-for-30 from the field, including 9 of 16 from beyond the arc. Collin Chandler led all scorers in the first half with nine points, all from three-point shots.tae Davis paced the Sooners with nine points of his own.
Lineup Updates and Player Availability
Kentucky stuck with its starting five for the fourth consecutive game.The lineup includes Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, Mouhamed Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, and Braydon Hawthorne. Oklahoma’s starting lineup consisted of Xzavier Brown, Nijel Pack, Mohamed Wague, Tae Davis, and Derrion Reid.
several Kentucky players were sidelined for this contest. Sophomore forward Jayden Quaintance missed his eighth straight game, while Jaland Lowe (shoulder) and Kam Williams (foot) are recovering from recent surgeries. According to the SEC’s availability report, all Oklahoma players were available to participate.
Game Details and Viewing Options
The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN2, with authenticated subscribers able to access it through TV-connected devices or via WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. Those without cable had the option to stream the game through Fubo, which offered a free trial.The UK radio network call, featuring play-by-play from Tom Leach and analysis from Jack Givens, was available on 840 AM in Louisville and 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington, as well as online at UKAthletics.com.
Betting Odds
Heading into the game, Kentucky was a 9-point favorite (-115) on DraftKings, with the over/under set at 153 points (-115/-105). The moneyline favored Kentucky at -500, while Oklahoma was listed at +380.
Sports reporter Ryan Black from the Courier journal provided live updates from Rupp Arena throughout the game and will continue to provide complete coverage. Fans could follow Black on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RyanABlack.
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The Wildcats will next face Tennessee at Rupp arena on February 7th at 8:30 p.m. ET.
