What is the score of the Kentucky men's basketball game? If you're asking this right now, you probably missed one of the most chaotic, heart-stopping finishes in the history of the border rivalry.
Kentucky 80, Tennessee 78. That’s the number. But honestly, the score alone doesn't even come close to telling the story of what happened at Food City Center in Knoxville this Saturday. Mark Pope’s squad basically lived out a nightmare for 30 minutes before deciding to flip the script and stun the #24 Volunteers on their own floor.
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The Comeback Cats Strike Again
You’ve heard of the "Cardiac Cats," but this 2025-26 version of Kentucky basketball is taking things to a whole new level of stress. For the second time in a single week, the Wildcats climbed out of a massive hole. On Wednesday, it was an 18-point comeback against Auburn. This time? They trailed by 17 in the first half.
It was ugly early on. Tennessee’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie was absolutely carving up the UK defense, putting up 14 of his game-high 24 points before the break. The Vols were more physical, more aggressive, and frankly, they looked like the better team. Kentucky was staring at a 42-31 deficit at halftime, and even that felt lucky after a late 7-0 run kept them within shouting distance.
The Denzel Aberdeen Show
If you aren't talking about Denzel Aberdeen, you aren't watching Kentucky basketball. The guy is a human microwave. After a quiet first half, he exploded for 18 points in the second stanza, finishing with 22.
He didn't just score; he hit the shots that killed the crowd’s momentum. Every time Thompson-Boling Arena started to get loud, Aberdeen was there with a triple or a fearless drive to the cup. He’s now averaging over 18 points per game over the last three contests.
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Breaking Down the Final Minute
The ending was pure SEC madness. Kentucky didn't actually lead this game until there were only 34 seconds left on the clock. Think about that. They played from behind for nearly 39 minutes.
- The Lead Change: Otega Oweh—who has now scored in double figures in 21 straight games dating back to last year—hit a layup to put UK up 78-77.
- The Insurance: After a missed free throw and a massive offensive board by Mouhamed Dioubate, Aberdeen found the bottom of the net again to make it 80-77.
- The Chaos: With 2.6 seconds left, Gillespie went to the line for Tennessee. He made the first, intentionally missed the second, and in the ensuing scramble, Malachi Moreno blocked Jaylen Carey’s buzzer-beater attempt.
The game ended with a literal shove-fest near the Tennessee bench. Tensions were high, the crowd was fuming, and Kentucky walked out with a "Quad 1" win that basically locks them into the NCAA Tournament conversation.
Why the Bench Won This Game
Mark Pope is a mad scientist with his rotations. Kentucky’s bench outscored Tennessee’s 36-22. That is the ball game right there. While the starters struggled with the Vols' physicality, guys like Jasper Johnson and Collin Chandler came in and provided an immediate spark.
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Johnson was huge in the first half when nobody else could buy a bucket, finishing with 12 points and 4 assists. Chandler, meanwhile, went 4-of-6 from deep. When your "bench" players are hitting 66% of their threes, you're going to be a hard team to beat, even on the road.
Looking Ahead: Can UK Keep This Up?
Honestly, this win moves Kentucky to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in the SEC. They are 6-0 this season when shooting over 40% from the three-point line.
But can they survive if they keep falling behind by 15+ points? Probably not. Eventually, the luck runs out. But for now, they are the most dangerous second-half team in the country.
Next Steps for Kentucky Fans:
- Watch the Texas Game: The Wildcats head back to Rupp Arena this Wednesday to host the Longhorns. Expect a massive jump in the rankings if they take care of business at home.
- Keep an eye on Jayden Quaintance: The freshman missed his third straight game with a knee injury. If UK gets him back soon, their frontcourt defense (which struggled against Tennessee’s Jaylen Carey early on) will be much more formidable.
- Check the Quad 1 Standings: This win in Knoxville is massive for seeding.
The score of the Kentucky men's basketball game might be 80-78, but the momentum behind this program feels much, much bigger.