Kentucky faced off against defending D2 National Champions Minnesota State in their final exhibition game, aiming to build on their impressive 71-point win over Kentucky Wesleyan.
The starting lineup featured Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Otega Oweh, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams. Both teams struggled to find their rhythm early on, but Otega Oweh quickly found his groove, scoring the first seven points for Kentucky. The Cats showcased their three-point shooting, attempting seven threes out of their first 12 shots. Minnesota State kept it competitive, narrowing the gap to 17-14 at the 10:56 mark of the first half.
Despite a slow start, Kentucky’s offense began to heat up following Coach Pope’s mantra of being a “green light team”, and with a few strategic adjustments, the Cats exploded for 10 points in just over two minutes, establishing a double-digit lead at 32-20 with 4:06 left in the first half.
Jaxson Robinson was particularly impactful, hitting his fifth three-pointer with 2.5 minutes remaining helping Kentucky transform a narrow lead into a commanding 20-point advantage by halftime, closing the first half at 43-23.
The Cats picked up right where they left off in the second half, hitting their first four shots and prompting an early timeout from Minnesota State. Andrew Carr, who was quieter in the first half, made a strong impact with 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting to start the second half. Jaxson Robinson continued his hot shooting draining three more three’s before the halfway mark of the second half, bringing him within two of tying the single-game record for made three-pointers.
Brandon Garrison also had an underrated night with 12 points, delivering a highlight-reel moment by posterizing a Minnesota State defender.
The ball movement was exceptional, with Kentucky assisting on 76% of their made shots (28 of 37) and committing only eight turnovers. Also, Kentucky’s consistent and deadly offense led to a commanding 31-point victory, finishing the game with a score of 98-67.
For more post game coverage head on over to the Cats Coverage YouTube channel for Mark Pope’s press conference and the interviews with the players.
Thanks for reading! We hope to see you again. To not miss any breaking news, follow us on Facebook and X/Twitter to see our daily content in real time.
Leave a Reply