Koby Brea scored 20 points, but No. 17 Kentucky lost at No. 4 Alabama 96-83 on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum.
For Brea, it was the fourth time this year he has scored at least 20 points.
Kentucky (18-9, 7-7 Southeastern Conference) got 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists from Amari Williams. It was the ninth time this season that Williams has recorded a double-double.
Andrew Carr also had 17 points for the Cats and Travis Perry had a career-high 12.
Alabama (22-5, 11-3) scored the first two points of the game before a Brea runner tied the game at 2-2. A Perry three made it 5-2. After a Crimson Tide bucket, Carr hit a three, giving the Cats an 8-4 advantage. Alabama scored again before Brea and Carr hit threes to make it 14-6. The Tide would answer with a three to cut the deficit to five.
Carr would drive to the basket for a crafty layup that gave UK a 16-9 advantage. A Collin Chandler layup and a Brandon Garrison dunk made it 20-9 Kentucky. However, Alabama scored the next seven points to get within four.
Another Brea three and two Carr free throws gave UK a 25-16 lead. After an Alabama bucket, Brea hit his third three of the game to make it 28-18. Oweh converted a tough chance at the rim to give the Cats a 30-18 advantage. However, Alabama scored the next nine points, getting within three.
A Garrison basket made it 32-27, but Alabama scored the next nine to close an 18-2 run that gave the Tide a 36-32 lead. A Perry layup, on a pass from Williams, cut the deficit to two, but the Tide scored the next six to lead 42-34.
A Williams jump hook got the Cats within six and two Williams free throws made it 42-38. The Tide scored five in a row but Williams scored just before the end of the half and Alabama led 47-40 at the half.
Alabama scored the first three points of the second half before a Carr dunk made it 50-42. The Tide hit three more free throws before a Perry layup cut the deficit to 53-44. Two Williams free throws and a Carr three got the Cats within four, 53-49.
After an Alabama three, Williams scored on a spin move in the lane, was fouled, and made the free throw to cut the ‘Bama lead to 56-52. After a Tide basket, Perry scored on a drive to the basket, was fouled, and made the free throw to make it 58-55. After an Alabama three, Brea hit a three of his own, cutting the Alabama lead to 61-58. The Tide would score again, making it 63-58.
Another Carr basket in the lane got the Cats within three but Alabama responded with a 7-2 run to lead 70-62. Williams hit two free throws and Brea hit a shot in the lane to make it 70-66 with 8:18 remaining.
The Tide responded with a 10-2 run to lead 80-68. Kentucky would continue to fight back, eventually getting within seven, 86-79, on a Chandler three, but Alabama scored the next eight to put the game away.
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday, visiting Norman to face Oklahoma. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
Kentucky Wildcats big man Amari Williams has etched his name into the program’s record books, surpassing an assist mark that stood for four decades. With
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The Kentucky Wildcats took a trip to Tuscaloosa for a marquee matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Heading into T-town shorthanded, the Cats fought hard bu
The Kentucky Wildcats fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night by a score of 96-83. The Cats once again set the nets ablaze to start