Today in Kentucky, by Keith Taylor
Tre Johnson, a Texas freshman superstar, defeated Kentucky on Saturday night.
In the first game between the two schools as SEC rivals, Johnson scored 32 points to help the Longhorns defeat the 15th-ranked Wildcats 82-78. While the Longhorns broke a three-game losing run and recorded their fourth Quad 1 victory of the season, Kentucky’s modest two-game winning streak came to an end with the loss.
Lamont Butler (shoulder) and Jaxson Robinson (wrist) were sidelined for the Wildcats’ first-ever game against the Longhorns in Austin. Travis Perry, a freshman at Kentucky, finished with six points and three assists in his first collegiate start. With a healthy roster, the Wildcats have only participated in seven games this season.
The team’s key guards, Robinson and Butler, were not there, and the Wildcats made 15 turnovers, allowing Texas to score 21 points off of those errors.
With 3:30 left, Kentucky was ahead 69-64, but Texas scored 12-1 points in less than two minutes to take the lead again and hold it. Johnson helped the Longhorns win by scoring five points during the hosts’ 7-0 burst.
Before the home team took control in the last three minutes of the match, there were nine lead changes and seven ties.
Amari Williams contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 20 points. In the first half, Williams added three assists and made his first 3-pointer of the year. Eleven points were added by Ansley Almonor.
In addition to their turnover problems, Kentucky missed eight of their 28 free throw tries and only shot 25% from beyond the arc.
GAMETRACKER: Wednesday at 8 p.m., Vandy at Kentucky. TV/Radio: UK Radio Network, SEC Network.
