Courtesy: U of A Communicationshttps://youtu.be/WE-gvJNiHuE?si=EVV3VqYatIUDEkgz
FAYETTEVILLE – #15/16 Arkansas opened the second half with a 22-11 run to take a lead. But, with the game tied at 63 with 8:02 left, Kentucky had a 5-point possession and held the lead the rest of the way for an 85-77 victory Saturday night at Bud Walton Arena.
The key possession centered around a foul followed immediately by a technical foul, giving UK four free throws and the ball. The Wildcats made three of those free throws. Then, getting the ball after the technical, Kentucky was fouled again and Malachi Moreno made two free throws to put the Cats up five, 68-63. Moreno then had a dunk for a seven-point Wildcat lead.
Arkansas cut its deficit to three twice over the next two minutes, but Kentucky opened up a 10-point lead, 80-70, with 2:03 left and never looked back.
The Razorbacks were down seven at halftime but started the second half on a 22-11 run. The spurt was aided by three technicals on Kentucky. With all the momentum, Billy Richmond III had a dunk to give Arkansas its first lead of the game, 52-51, with 14:04 left.
During the 22-11 run, Darius Acuff Jr. scored 13 points for Arkansas as the Hogs took a 57-53 lead with 12:19 remaining.
Arkansas held the lead over the next two minutes until Otega Oweh had a fastbreak dunk to tie the game at 59. Trent Noah followed with two free throws to put UK up two. Acuff found Malique Ewin for an alley-oop dunk to tie the game at 61 only to see Oweh answer with a layup. Richmond tied the game at 63 with a layup. Kentucky then had its five-point possession to lead to the upset win.
Also key in Kentucky’s win was the Wildcats’ ability to out-rebound Arkansas, 35-26.
Oweh led Kentucky with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Moreno added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Acuff led Arkansas with 22 points. Trevon Brazile just missed a double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds, adding two assists and three blocked shots.
Arkansas will have a midweek bye and then play three of its next four on the road – at Mississippi State on Feb. 7, at LSU on Feb. 10 and at Alabama on Feb. 18. The lone home game in the stretch is versus Auburn on Feb. 14