Second half match sparks no. 8 Kentucky in 105-76 win over Georgia State

An upset Kentucky team is a dangerous Kentucky team.

Friday night at Rupp Arena, no. 8 The Wildcats (7-0) used the energy they desperately needed from a second-half scrimmage — which resulted in several technical fouls — to blow past Georgia State (4-4) in a 105-76 victory. Seven different Kentucky players reached double figures, led by 19 points from Jackson Robinson and 17 more from Lamont Butler. UK struggled from deep, finishing the night just 7-26 from long range, but still managed to shoot 60 percent as a team with 62 points from the paint.

Four technical fouls in the middle of the second half were filled after a near brawl. At the time, Kentucky led 61-53. After the officials reviewed the situation and handed out their technicals, the Wildcats ended the game on a 44-23 run. A total of 44 fouls were called in this game between the two teams with two Georgia State players sitting out.

Along with Robinson and Butler, Amari Williams chipped in 14 points and six rebounds (including a perfect 6-6 mark from the free throw line). Otega Oweh and Ansley Almonor added 12 points each time Andrew Carr and Koby Brea went for 10 each. UK turned the ball over just nine times while dishing out 23 assists.

A 7-0 start to the season is Kentucky’s best since the 2016-17 campaign.

Georgia State came out determined to give Kentucky a good fight. The Panthers executed about as well as they could have asked for most of the first half. It took a few segments for Kentucky to find a rhythm offensively, but when they did, a double-digit lead quickly followed. However, Georgia State remained close and actually trailed by just two points with 5:06 left in the half. Then Kentucky caught fire.

The Wildcats finished the opening half on a 17-4 run to take a 48-33 halftime lead. Butler led all scorers with 13 points on 5-6 shooting, while three more Wildcats had eight points. Despite going 4-11 from deep in the first half, UK still shot 67.9 percent overall. It was hardly a perfect 20 minutes of play for the ‘Cats, but a 15-point lead was satisfactory.

However, the start of the second half would be the opposite until a midfield brawl turned the momentum. Georgia State started the second half 4-5 from deep and trimmed Kentucky’s lead back to just six points. But when Panthers forward Clash Peters (aptly named) shoved Williams on a post-up, the officials (and head coach Mark Pope) had to step in.

After the push that sent Williams to the ground, several players and coaches from both sides stepped in to break it up. When the dust settled, Peters was tagged with a technical and a flagrant foul, while Nutter was assessed a technical foul for Georgia State. For Kentucky, Oweh and Brea were hit with technicals for their involvement in the fight. Williams responded by scoring six straight for the ‘Cats.

Kentucky went on a 14-5 run over the next few minutes to regain control. With less than eight minutes remaining, UK took an 81-61 lead as five Wildcats were now in double figures. Kentucky was hardly done rubbing it in, though, as the advantage would quickly balloon to 30-plus down the stretch. Trent Noah and Travis Perry wanted to check in with under two minutes left to top it off.

Up next: Kentucky hits the road for the first time since November 12th when they travel to play the Clemson Tigers on Tuesday, December 3rd. Tipoff on ESPN is set for 9:30 PM EST.