No. 10 Kentucky (12-2) kicked off its SEC campaign in dramatic fashion on Saturday, securing a thrilling 106-100 victory over No. 6 Florida (13-1) at Rupp Arena. The win handed the Gators their first loss of the season in a high-octane battle filled with momentum swings and clutch performances from the Wildcats.
Despite a sluggish start that saw Kentucky fall behind early, including an 11-point deficit (26-15), the Wildcats found their rhythm in the latter half of the first period. A 16-0 run turned the game around, and they went into halftime with a 52-42 lead. Koby Brea led the charge, finishing the first half with 14 points, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Otega Oweh also had a strong opening half with 10 points, and Lamont Butler contributed seven points and four assists.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair. Florida’s Alijah Martin caught fire, scoring 15 points in the first eight minutes, cutting Kentucky’s lead to just one point at 70-69. But Kentucky responded with a quick 10-0 run, extending the lead to double digits once more. The Gators wouldn’t go down without a fight, though, as they lived at the free-throw line, staying within striking distance.
With just under four minutes to go, the lead was cut to two, but Butler’s personal 5-0 run, followed by Andrew Carr’s critical corner three-pointer, sealed the victory for the Wildcats. Carr’s clutch shot gave Kentucky an 8-point cushion, and they held on in the final moments, hitting enough free throws to close out the game.
Brea finished with a game-high 23 points, shooting 7-9 from beyond the arc. Oweh added 16 points, and Williams contributed 15 points and eight rebounds. Despite losing the rebounding battle, Kentucky’s offensive efficiency—shooting 58 percent from the field and 48 percent from three—proved to be the difference.
With this victory, Kentucky not only handed Florida its first loss but also announced their intent to contend for the SEC crown this season.
