Kentucky Secures Key SEC Victory Over Vanderbilt

By Hayden Kennedy

KySportsStyle.com Magazine

No. 17 Kentucky hosted the Vanderbilt Commodores in an SEC matchup on Wednesday night and the Wildcats avenged their 74-69 loss to Vandy earlier in the season, winning 82-61. 

Kentucky's Otega Oweh drives past a Vanderbilt defender during Wednesday night's action at Rupp Arena. Oweh had 20 points and seven rebounds as UK defeated Vanderbilt 82-61. (Photo by Rob Raymond)

The win improved UK's record to 18-8 overall and 7-6 in SEC. The loss dropped Vanderbilt to 17-9 overall and 5-8 in the league.

Kentucky's duo of Otega Oweh and Amari Williams had outstanding nights.

Oweh ended the night with 20 points on 7 of 10 shooting, seven rebounds, and three assists. He has scored in double figures in every game this season (26), the only SEC player to do so.

Williams had a perfect shooting night, going 6 of 6 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line, totaling 17 points. 

UK's Andrew Carr returned to the starting lineup, his first start since January 18. He finished with 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting, including one three-pointer. 

Travis Perry and Trent Noah have been solid performers as freshmen for Kentucky this season, but rookie Collin Chandler was the one to step up Wednesday night. Chandler would do some of everything, scoring seven points with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 

“I thought Collin gave us a massive boost tonight energy-wise,” Kentucky coach Mark Pope said. “You know, he is a two-two-two guy. Two assists, two turnovers, two steals. Right? Just the energy and intensity. Collin has a really special burst.”

In the second half, Kentucky’s defense played exceptionally well, giving up only 21 points in a key conference win. 

“We're getting better defensively,” Pope said. “We're understanding ourselves better. We are communicating better; we are locked in together a little better. I thought the guys had a terrific defensive performance in the second half."

UK, meanwhile, hit 58 percent from the field tonight on 29 of 50 shooting, the highest mark this season against an SEC opponent.

Kentucky travels to Tuscaloosa to take on the fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. The 6 p.m. ET contest will be shown on ESPN with Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, and Dick Vitale on the call. This will be Vitale’s second game back in action after beating cancer. 

Hayden Kennedy, a recent UK graduate, is a contributing writer from Lexington.

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