Kentucky Falls to North Carolina in a Tight Contest at Rupp Arena
In their first major game of the season inside Rupp Arena, the Kentucky Wildcats faced another top-tier opponent and came up just short. The No. 18 Cats fell to the 16th-ranked North Carolina team with a final score of 67-64, dropping their record to 5-3 on the season.
This loss marked the third consecutive marquee game that Kentucky has struggled to win. Earlier in the 2025-26 season, the team suffered a 96-88 defeat at Louisville on November 11 and an 83-66 loss to Michigan State in Madison Square Garden two weeks prior. Despite their efforts in this latest matchup, the Wildcats were unable to secure a crucial victory.
Kentucky started strong, taking a six-point lead in the second half before the first TV timeout. However, the team’s inability to maintain control ultimately led to their downfall. A key moment came when backup center Brandon Garrison hit a three-pointer to put the Cats ahead 48-44 with 13:08 remaining. After that, Kentucky went into a shooting slump, missing 13 consecutive shots. North Carolina, despite its own offensive struggles, managed to take the lead with just over three minutes left in the game.
Malachi Moreno tied the game at 62-62 with two free throws, and the Cats had a chance to close the gap. However, they failed to secure rebounds on both possessions, allowing UNC guard Derek Dixon to hit a three-pointer for a 64-62 lead. Collin Chandler responded with a strong drive to tie the game again, but Dixon quickly answered with another drive to give North Carolina a 66-64 advantage. With just 12.4 seconds left, UK called a timeout to set up their final shot, but it missed, and the Tar Heels secured the rebound. Caleb Wilson added a free throw with 2.8 seconds left, sealing the 67-64 victory for North Carolina.
Otega Oweh was the leading scorer for Kentucky with 16 points, while Collin Chandler added 12 points. Malachi Moreno contributed eight points and a team-high nine rebounds. On the other side, North Carolina’s freshman star, Caleb Wilson, finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, though he struggled from the field, going 5 of 19.
The game started with a promising stretch for the Wildcats. They built a 10-4 lead early on, fueled by a 6-0 run that included a fast-break dunk by Kam Williams. The crowd at Rupp Arena was already electric, and the excitement reached a peak when new UK football coach Will Stein was introduced to the fans at midcourt. However, the momentum quickly shifted as North Carolina tied the game in just 94 seconds, and the two teams remained closely contested for the rest of the first half.
Kentucky struggled from beyond the arc, missing all eight of their three-point attempts in the first half—the first time the team had failed to score from the perimeter during the Mark Pope era. Despite this, they shot well from inside the arc, going 15 of 22 on two-pointers. North Carolina, on the other hand, shot just 12 of 32 from the field but capitalized on 11 offensive rebounds, outscoring the Cats 9-4 on second-chance points.
The second half continued with Kentucky’s challenges on the boards and from the perimeter. The team ended the game shooting just 1 of 13 from three-point range, further complicating their chances of pulling away.
Kentucky won’t have much time to regroup before their next big test. The team will face No. 11 Gonzaga on Friday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. EST start on ESPN2. Gonzaga comes into the matchup after a tough loss to Michigan, but they remain a formidable opponent. This will be the fourth game in a six-game series between the two programs.
Key Takeaways from the Game
- Struggles from Beyond the Arc: Kentucky’s poor shooting from three-point range was a major factor in their loss.
- Rebounding Issues: The team struggled to secure rebounds throughout the game, which hurt their ability to sustain momentum.
- Key Performances: Otega Oweh and Collin Chandler led the way for the Wildcats, but their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the deficit.
- UNC’s Resilience: North Carolina showed resilience, especially in the second half, to secure the win.
- Upcoming Challenge: Kentucky faces a tough test against Gonzaga, which could be a pivotal game in the season.
