FINAL: Kentucky 81, Texas A&M 69

01/14/2025 08:36:27 PM

After a rough first half, Kentucky just notched its fifth win over an AP Top 15 team with an 81-69 victory over No. 11 Texas A&M. The Cats are now 14-3 overall, 3-1 in SEC play. Jaxson Robinson led the way with 22 points, 15 in the first half, against his former squad. Andrew Carr (13) and Otega Oweh (11) are the only other Kentucky players to finish in double figures.

Texas A&M did its best to slow the game to a crawl in the second half but the Cats still walked away with a double-digit win over a top-15 team. Not too shabby.

Score Update: 1:09 – Kentucky 75, Texas A&M 63

01/14/2025 08:28:44 PM

This one may be in the bag, my friends. Kentucky has hit its last five field goals and leads Texas A&M by 12 with 1:09 to go. This dunk by Amari Williams may have sealed it.

No. 4 Alabama goes down

01/14/2025 08:25:52 PM

A quick SEC update while we wait for more fouls to be called: No. 21 Ole Miss just beat No. 4 Alabama by ten in Tuscaloosa. Both teams were undefeated in SEC play coming into tonight’s game. Now, Auburn and Ole Miss are atop the SEC standings at 4-0. The Tigers beat No. 15 Mississippi State by 22 tonight. Of course, Alabama comes to Lexington on Saturday.

Texas A&M’s Obaseki fouls out

01/14/2025 08:20:14 PM

This game is still going on. Brandon Garrison is headed to the free-throw line after a hard foul by Manny Obaseki. Officials reviewed it to see if it was excessive and determined it was a Flagrant 1 foul. He was already set to foul out, but now the Cats get the ball after Brandon Garrison’s two free throws, which he just made. Cats are up by 11.

2:55 2H – Kentucky 71, Texas A&M 60

Score Update: 3:51 2H- Kentucky 66, Texas A&M 58

01/14/2025 08:14:11 PM

This game’s getting sloppy again. Texas A&M is hanging around, down eight with 3:51 to go. Lamont Butler is holding the shoulder he injured earlier in the game. He’s going to be sore tomorrow.

Jaxson Robinson remains the only UK player in double figures, which is kind of wild. This dunk took his total to 22.

Score Update: 5:52 2H – Kentucky 63, Texas A&M 53

01/14/2025 08:06:45 PM

Kentucky’s lead was down to six but a pair of free throws by Amari Williams and a bucket by Jaxson Robinson has it back up to ten with 5:52 to go. Robinson now has 20 points and eight rebounds. Williams has a team-high 12 boards to go along with six points and four assists. He’s been a beast tonight.

KSR Text Machine likes the rebounding but is worried about Auburn

01/14/2025 07:59:22 PM

Like Koby Break, the KSR Text Machine is warming up. This texter likes what he sees from Jaxson Robinson and Amari Williams on the boards but is also keeping an eye on Auburn, which is currently beating No. 15 Mississippi State 84-62 even without their best player Johni Broome. You can text your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).

Score Update: 7:56 2H – Kentucky 59, Texas A&M 48

01/14/2025 07:56:13 PM

Kentucky’s lead is 11 at the under-eight timeout. The Aggies will head to the free throw line after a foul on Travis Perry. Perry is in for Lamont Butler, who slipped again and grabbed his knee on the previous play. He got up relatively quickly and seems okay, but my heart went into my stomach when he reached for his knee.

In other news, Koby Brea hit his first three of the game. Brandon Garrison also joined the dunk party with this slam:

Score Update 11:15 2H – Kentucky 54, Texas A&M 43

01/14/2025 07:47:25 PM

Otega Oweh almost got his third massive dunk this half, but Solomon Washington wisely committed the foul. Oweh will head to the free-throw line after this timeout.

This picture is about to be a lot of phone wallpapers.

OTEGA OWEH POSTER

01/14/2025 07:41:12 PM

Otega Oweh just put Pharrel Payne on a poster. My goodness. #SCTop10

Lamont Butler checks back in

01/14/2025 07:36:53 PM

Lamont Butler has checked back in at the 15:19 mark. As you might expect, Travis Perry got a nice cheer from the Rupp Arena crowd when he headed to the bench.

14:50 2H – Kentucky 48, Texas A&M 38

Back-to-back threes by Robinson, Perry

01/14/2025 07:30:15 PM

And here comes Kentucky! Back-to-back threes by Jaxson Robinson (his fifth) and Travis Perry (his second) have Kentucky up by 12. The Cats are on an 11-2 run to start the second half.

16:26: 2H – Kentucky 46, Texas A&M 34

Kerr Kriisa Appreciation Post

01/14/2025 07:28:53 PM

There’s nothing the Rupp Arena crowd loves more than Travis Perry threes. Same, says Kerr Kriisa, who went insane on the bench.

Butler is back on the bench

01/14/2025 07:24:22 PM

Phew. Lamont Butler is back on the bench after getting checked out in the locker room. He got back just in time to see Travis Perry hit a three to put Kentucky up by eight.

18:07 2H – Kentucky 40, Texas A&M 32

Lamont Butler injured, headed to locker room

01/14/2025 07:21:09 PM

Lamont Butler just checked out of the game after taking an inadvertent kick in the face from Zhuric Phelps. Butler stayed on the court for a minute and was also grabbing his shoulder, clearly in pain. He was able to get back up and walk to the bench and has now headed to the locker room. Travis Perry is now in for him.

Are these fans dressed as Mark Pope?

01/14/2025 07:06:25 PM

If so, the one in the middle should have known better than to wear a red tie.

HALF: Kentucky 35, Texas A&M 32

01/14/2025 07:01:23 PM

A Jaxson Robinson three-pointer has the Cats on top at halftime 35-32. After hitting the three, his fourth, Robinson turned and pointed at Texas A&M’s bench again, which prompted Buzz Williams to go speak to the refs before going into the tunnel. It seemed like there were no hard feelings about Robinson’s year at A&M (2020-21), but clearly, there’s something there.

Robinson leads all scorers with 15 points. He’s the only Cat in double figures. Kentucky is just 5-17 from three (29.4%) and 10-29 (34.5%) from the floor overall, while Texas A&M is uncharacteristically hot from beyond the arc, hitting seven threes so far, which is above their season average. So far, this one’s been a rock fight.

Score Update: 49.1 1H – Kentucky 32, Texas A&M 32

01/14/2025 06:55:56 PM

We’re tied at 32 after two free throws by Lamont Butler. The foul was called on Solomon Washington but after watching the replay, it should have been goaltending. Refs did not see it nor review it.

What did Jaxson Robinson say to Texas A&M’s bench?

01/14/2025 06:55:09 PM

Jaxson Robinson is heating up, hitting a pair of threes to bring Kentucky within one, 31-30. After the second one, he turned and said something to Texas A&M’s bench, which earned him a technical from the refs. What did he say to his former coach?

Score Update: 3:42 1H – Texas A&M 25, Kentucky 22

01/14/2025 06:44:52 PM

Big Bucket Ansley! That’s what I’m calling him until I come up with a more clever nickname. Almonor hit a three to tie the game at 22 at the 4:56 mark. Unfortunately, Texas A&M’s Zhuric Phelps followed it up with one of his own to put the Aggies back on top. It came after a three-point miss by Solomon Washington. Texas A&M has come alive on the offensive boards, now with 7 offensive rebounds to Kentucky’s 6.

Kentucky is now 7-24 (29.2%) from the floor and 2-13 (15.4%) from the three-point line. Oof.

Amari Williams joins the two-foul club

01/14/2025 06:41:40 PM

Right after I hit post on the last update, Amari Williams picked up his second foul, joining Otega Oweh and Andrew Carr on the bench. In just over a minute of play, all three players picked up their second fouls. Koby Brea just hit a pair of free throws after a foul on Hayden Hefner to bring Kentucky within one, 20-19.

Foul Trouble begins…

01/14/2025 06:37:51 PM

I’m writing way too much about the refs. Andrew Carr and Otega Oweh just picked up their second fouls and have headed to the bench. Ansley Almonor checked in for Carr and was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made all three to pull Kentucky within three with just under six minutes until halftime.

5:57 1H – Texas A&M 20, Kentucky 17

Score Update: 7:22 1H – Texas A&M 18, Kentucky 14

01/14/2025 06:30:58 PM

The three still won’t fall for Kentucky. The Cats are now 1-11 from behind the arc. Thankfully, they’re still doing enough inside to stay within four with 7:22 to go in the half. Example: this bucket by Amari Williams.

Bench technical on Texas A&M

01/14/2025 06:28:07 PM

The officials are making themselves known so far. After a ridiculous offensive foul call on Amari Williams, Texas A&M’s Manny Obaseki threw down a big dunk, which the Aggies spilled off the bench to celebrate. Doug Sirmons called a bench technical on Buzz Williams’ squad.

Here’s a look at that “foul” on Amari Williams. Even Mark Pope, who attends referee symposiums, couldn’t hold back his reaction.

10-0 run by Texas A&M

01/14/2025 06:27:01 PM

We’re in an odd role reversal so far. Kentucky can’t make a three-pointer, just 1-10 from the outside so far, while Texas A&M has already hit four threes. The Aggies are on a 10-0 run right now and frustrating the Cats with their zone. We need some shots to start falling.

9:10 1H – Texas A&M 16, Kentucky 11

Collin Chandler is beating Mark Pope at chess

01/14/2025 06:22:29 PM

The ESPN2 crew just shared a fun video of Mark Pope in his office talking about chess. Pope said he’s terrible at the game but loves to play it, and is currently playing against Collin Chandler, who is beating him. Chess, Rubik’s Cubes, basketball…what can’t Collin Chandler do?

Score Update: 11:44 1H – Kentucky 11, Texas A&M

01/14/2025 06:18:48 PM

We’re tied at 11 after a three-pointer by Texas A&M’s Jace Carter. The Aggies already have three three-pointers so far, just two shy of their average in SEC play. Meanwhile, the Cats are ice cold from downtown, hitting just one of eight three-point attempts. Kentucky is still winning the rebounding battle 9-7.

Andrew Carr hits back-to-back buckets to put the Cats up five

01/14/2025 06:15:27 PM

Andrew Carr’s back looks fine so far. The big man just hit back-to-back buckets to put Kentucky up 11-6 at the 13:00 mark. He just fouled Pharrel Payne, who hit two free throws to make it 11-8. Eight of Kentucky’s eleven points so far have come in the paint, and all three of Andrew Carr’s buckets have been scored off Amari Williams assists.

Score Update: 14:52 1H – Kentucky 7, Texas A&M 6

01/14/2025 06:09:51 PM

Jaxson Robinson is determined to keep the points flowing. After going 0-3 from the three-point line to start things off, Robinson worked his way to the bucket for a reverse layup. Less than a minute later, he finally found the bottom of the net from the outside to put Kentucky up 7-3. Texas A&M’s Zhuric Phelps answered with a three of his own to make it 7-6 Cats at the first media timeout.

It’s a sloppy game so far but Kentucky is going right at A&M, with a 7-5 advantage on the glass against the nation’s top offensive rebounding team. There have been plenty of misses to grab. Both teams are combined 5-17 from the floor thus far.

Tonight’s officials

01/14/2025 05:50:04 PM

Officiating tonight’s game are K.B. Burdett, Byron Jarrett, and Doug Sirmons. BigBlueHistory.net tells me the last Kentucky game Sirmons called was the 2022 win at Kansas. The last technical he called on Kentucky was in 2021 on Devin Askew for arguing a non-call on a shot attempt in a loss at Missouri.

If you were wondering, Devin Askew is still playing college basketball. He’s a fifth-year senior at Long Beach State, where he’s averaging 18.6 points per game.

Same Starting Five

01/14/2025 05:46:56 PM

With Andrew Carr available, the Cats are starting the usual suspects vs. Texas A&M:

01 Butler
00 Otega Oweh
02 Jaxson Robinson
07 Andrew Carr
22 Amari Williams

Pope on Texas A&M’s offensive rebounding

01/14/2025 05:42:27 PM

Texas A&M is the No. 1 offensive rebounding team in the country, pulling down an average of 17.1 offensive boards per game. In his pregame conversation with Tom Leach, Mark Pope called the Aggies “relentless” on the offensive glass and said he’s never faced a team with two bigs that have almost 10+ more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds on the season.

Georgia Amoore is at tonight’s game

01/14/2025 05:39:47 PM

Kentucky Women’s Basketball star Georgia Amoore knocked it out of the park during her appearance on KSR this morning. She followed it up with an appearance on the official UK pregame show and is now courtside. Kentucky WBB isn’t back in action until Sunday, when they play at Georgia. Kenny Brooks’ Cats are 15-1 this season, 4-1 in the SEC.

Throwback unis!

01/14/2025 05:14:49 PM

They’re back! The 1993 throwback uniforms are making another appearance tonight. We first saw them make a return a few seasons ago. No denim, unfortunately.

ICYMI, Andrew Carr is available

01/14/2025 05:58:48 PM

The final availability report for tonight’s game dropped about an hour ago and Andrew Carr’s name was not on it, meaning he will play tonight. On his call-in show last night, Mark Pope said that Carr did not practice on Monday in order to get some more treatment on his back, which has been bothering him for the past few weeks. Texas A&M star guard Wade Taylor IV remains out for the third straight game.

Big night of college hoops

01/14/2025 05:03:10 PM

No. 8 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Texas A&M is one of nine ranked games tonight, four in the SEC. At the same time the Cats play the Aggies, No. 1 Auburn hosts No. 15 Mississippi State and No. 4 Alabama hosts No. 21 Ole Miss. Could be a good night for the multi-view if you can handle it.

Here’s the schedule:

When it comes to our game, here’s how you can watch or listen. Will Jimmy Dykes break out Jimmy’s Jet? If so, where will Kentucky be sitting?

Kentucky vs. Texas A&M: How to Watch, Listen

• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Television: ESPN2 (Karl Ravech Jimmy Dykes)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 160 or 192
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast