Overview
- Kentucky erased a 17-point first‑half deficit after trailing 42-31 at halftime to win 80-78 in Knoxville.
- Denzel Aberdeen led the Wildcats with 22 points, including 18 after the break, with Otega Oweh adding 12 and Mo Dioubate 10.
- Bench production proved pivotal as Jasper Johnson and Collin Chandler scored 12 apiece, accounting for 36 points from reserves.
- Tennessee’s Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 24 points and intentionally missed a free throw with 2.6 seconds left before the Vols’ last-chance shot was blocked at the buzzer.
- Players were separated after brief post-buzzer shoving, and both teams continued without key absentees Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance for Kentucky and season-ending loss of Cade Phillips for Tennessee.