Kentucky defeats St John's 78-66
Kentucky Edges St John's in CBS Sports Classic Thriller
The Final Whistle: 78-66 in Favor of the Wildcats
In a thrilling matchup, the University of Kentucky hosted the visiting St John's Red Storm at State Farm Arena on Saturday evening, and it was a game for the ages. With the home crowd energized, the Wildcats pulled off a hard-fought victory, erasing a seven-point halftime deficit to claim an 78-66 win.
The first half saw both teams struggling from beyond the arc, with Kentucky's Otega Oweh leading the way for his team. The sophomore guard scored 10 points in the period, including two three-pointers, and helped his team stay ahead by as many as seven before halftime.
Halftime Break: St John's Holds Slim Lead
The Red Storm came out strong in the second half, with Bryce Hopkins scoring six points to keep his team within reach. However, Kentucky's Malachi Moreno was unstoppable on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds and providing crucial support for his offense. The Wildcats' Jaland Lowe also chipped in with seven points of his own, helping his team stay ahead.
By the end of the third quarter, the largest lead for either side had grown to 15, but St John's refused to back down. Despite being outscored by Kentucky 25-32 in the first half, the Red Storm managed to stay within striking distance at halftime.
Comeback for the Ages
In a stunning turn of events, St John's erased their seven-point deficit with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. The visitors' Ian Jackson sank a pair of free throws to cut the gap to five, and though Kentucky responded with a basket, Oziyah Sellers hit two clutch free throws to send the game into overtime.
The extra frame proved short-lived for St John's, as the Wildcats capitalized on sloppy ball handling to score the first points. A 15-2 run sealed the win for Kentucky, who ultimately emerged victorious by 12 points.
Key Takeaways
* Otega Oweh led all scorers with 20 points, including zero three-pointers, while Bryce Hopkins scored 13 points.
* Malachi Moreno's all-around performance (9 rebounds and 8 points) was instrumental in securing the win for Kentucky.
* St John's struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 26.0% on the night.
The Wildcats' win marked their first victory at home this season, putting them back in the mix as they head into conference play. For St John's, the tough loss serves as a wake-up call ahead of their next matchup.