Kentucky took a 35-27 lead into halftime against Troy after a crucial 10-0 run in the final minutes gave the Wildcats some breathing room. The game started as a grind, with Kentucky struggling from three-point range (1-8 early on), but a series of big plays helped them break away. Trent Noah and Andrew Carr knocked down back-to-back threes, igniting momentum. Then, Amari Williams delivered a coast-to-coast finish that nearly blew the roof off the arena. Koby Brea added a dunk to push the lead to 11, though Troy’s Jackson Fields responded with a three to stop the bleeding.
At the break, Kentucky was shooting 50% from the field (14-28), 30% from beyond the arc (3-10), and 66.7% from the free-throw line (4-6). Carr led the Wildcats with 11 points on flawless 4-4 shooting, followed by Otega Oweh with 10. Brea and Brandon Garrison added four each, while Noah and Williams chipped in three.
For the Trojans, Fields led the way with seven points, followed by standout Tayton Conerway with six and Marcus Rigsby Jr. with five. Despite Kentucky’s size advantage, the rebounding battle was even at 19-19. However, the Wildcats held key advantages in points in the paint (20-12) and assists (10-5). Defensively, Kentucky limited Troy’s fastbreak opportunities, allowing only two points in transition and just three points off turnovers.
The Wildcats had to overcome a slow start but finished the half strong. Their defensive intensity and ability to capitalize on key moments put them in control heading into the second half. However, they’ll need to keep their foot on the gas to secure the win and avoid any late drama. With 20 minutes left, the path to victory is there—but Kentucky must tighten up to ensure they advance.