Kentucky Basketball Survives Missouri in SEC Tournament

Wildcats advance to quarterfinals after hard-fought victory

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:08pm

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The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Missouri Tigers 78-72 in the second round of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Despite facing early foul trouble and a second-half comeback attempt by Missouri, Kentucky relied on a balanced scoring attack and timely defensive stops to hold on for the victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps Kentucky's SEC Tournament hopes alive as they advance to the quarterfinal round. The Wildcats will now face the top-seeded Florida Gators, setting up an intriguing matchup between two of the conference's powerhouse programs.

The details

Kentucky entered the game having defeated LSU in the opening round, while Missouri was playing its first tournament game. The Wildcats built a 38-29 halftime lead thanks to contributions from multiple players, including Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, Andrija Jelavic, and Mouhamed Dioubate. However, Missouri stormed back in the second half, taking a late one-point lead before Kentucky responded with key defensive stops and baskets from Oweh and Aberdeen to seal the victory.

  • Kentucky defeated LSU in the SEC Tournament opening round on Wednesday.
  • The Kentucky vs. Missouri game was played on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  • Kentucky will face the Florida Gators in the quarterfinal round on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 1 PM ET.

The players

Mark Pope

Head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team.

Otega Oweh

Kentucky Wildcats basketball player who had a strong second-half performance to help the team hold off Missouri.

Denzel Aberdeen

Kentucky Wildcats basketball player who hit a clutch shot in the final minutes to seal the victory over Missouri.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Kentucky vs. Florida quarterfinal matchup will advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

Kentucky's balanced scoring attack and timely defensive plays proved to be the difference in their narrow victory over Missouri. As the Wildcats prepare to face the top-seeded Florida Gators, they will need to continue this team-oriented approach and maintain their composure in the face of adversity to keep their SEC Tournament hopes alive.