Kentucky rallies again to sweep No. 25 Tennessee

Wildcats overcome double-digit halftime deficit to beat Vols for second time this season

Feb. 8, 2026 at 1:31am

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The Kentucky men's basketball team rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat No. 25 Tennessee 74-71 at Rupp Arena, completing a regular season sweep of the Volunteers. Senior wing Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 21 points, while sophomore guard Collin Chandler hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute to seal the victory. Kentucky has now won 12 of its last 15 games after a 5-4 start to the season, putting the Wildcats in position to challenge for the SEC regular season title.

Why it matters

Kentucky's midseason turnaround has been remarkable, as the Wildcats have rebounded from early-season struggles to emerge as a contender in the SEC. This victory over a ranked Tennessee team showcases the team's resilience and ability to win close games, traits that will be crucial as Kentucky faces a showdown with defending national champion Florida next week with the SEC lead on the line.

The details

After trailing 47-33 at halftime, Kentucky stormed back in the second half, holding Tennessee to 0-for-6 shooting from 3-point range after the Volunteers had made 8 triples in the first half. Oweh continued his strong SEC play with another 20-point performance, while Chandler hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute to put the Wildcats ahead for good. Denzel Aberdeen and Mouhamed Dioubate also made key plays down the stretch to secure the victory for Kentucky.

  • On January 17, Kentucky rallied from a 42-31 halftime deficit to beat Tennessee 80-78 in Knoxville.
  • On February 4, Kentucky trailed Tennessee 47-33 at halftime before coming back to win 74-71 at Rupp Arena.

The players

Otega Oweh

A senior wing who has scored 20 or more points in 9 of Kentucky's 11 SEC games this season, emerging as a leading candidate for SEC Player of the Year.

Collin Chandler

A sophomore guard who has made several clutch plays late in games to lead Kentucky to victories, earning the nickname "Captain Clutch" from his teammates.

Nate Ament

A Tennessee star who made 4 of 6 3-pointers in the first half to help the Volunteers build a big lead, before Kentucky's defense shut him down in the second half.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

A Tennessee guard who also hit 4 of 8 3-pointers in the first half, but was limited to just 1 second-half attempt as Kentucky adjusted its defensive strategy.

Rick Barnes

The Tennessee head coach, who lamented that if his team had been able to maintain its first-half performance, they likely would have won the national championship.

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What they’re saying

“We don't have that many guys on the roster anymore, but everybody is stepping up.”

— Mark Pope, Kentucky head coach

“They were running a pick and roll where they're trying to hit the short roll, because I wasn't coming to help on the short roll, and I was staying on (Ament). They did a little bit of damage like that, but ... we wanted to take away their shooting, and make them beat us in other ways.”

— Collin Chandler, Kentucky sophomore guard

“(An SEC) player of the year candidate. He's playing at that level.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee head coach

“I was just really trying to get two feet in the paint. I feel like, all night, I did a really good job of getting to the paint and either finishing it or making a play for teammates. ... And Collin was open.”

— Otega Oweh, Kentucky senior wing

“He's cold, bro, he's cold.”

— Otega Oweh, Kentucky senior wing

What’s next

Next Saturday, Kentucky will travel to Gainesville to face defending national champion Florida in a game that will have major implications for the SEC regular season title race.

The takeaway

Kentucky's remarkable midseason turnaround has put the Wildcats in position to challenge for an SEC championship, showcasing the team's resilience and ability to win close games despite key injuries. The upcoming matchup with Florida will be a true test of whether this Kentucky squad has the talent ceiling to compete with the nation's elite teams.