No. 23 Kentucky Defeats UCF in Overtime Thriller Ahead of Season Opener

The No. 23 Kentucky men's basketball team pulled away in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, outscoring Central Florida 19-5 in overtime to secure a 90-76 victory at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats leaned on decisive late-game execution and balanced scoring to overcome a persistent second-half charge by the Knights, building momentum as they approach the start of the regular season.

Milan Momcilovic spearheaded the Kentucky offense with a team-high 19 points, including crucial baskets during the extra period. Freshman Mason Williams contributed 18 points, while Malachi Moreno delivered a dominant all-around effort, recording 16 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. Alex Wilkins posted 12 points, highlighted by a game-saving basket at the buzzer in regulation that kept the Wildcats alive.

Kentucky opened the scoring when Zoom Diallo hit a runner in the lane, quickly followed by early perimeter shots from Ousmane N'Diaye, Justin McBride, and Braydon Hawthorne that pushed UK ahead 30-17. Central Florida responded with a 10-2 run before the break, cutting the Wildcats' advantage to 39-35 at halftime. Kentucky rebuilt a 10-point lead early in the second half behind a dunk from Moreno and perimeter scoring from Williams, but UCF answered with an 11-2 surge to claim a 65-63 lead with just over three minutes left.

The closing stretch of regulation featured multiple lead changes. Momcilovic sank two free throws to put Kentucky up 69-68, but the Knights converted two foul shots with 26 seconds remaining to retake a 70-69 lead. After Hawthorne missed two free throws with nine seconds left and UCF split a subsequent trip to the charity stripe, Kentucky gained possession down by two. As time expired, Wilkins drove into the paint and connected on a runner to tie the game at 71-71, while a desperation heave from UCF missed.

In overtime, Kentucky seized full control. Momcilovic opened the session with five consecutive points, followed by a Williams basket in the lane. Wilkins extended the cushion with a 3-pointer and two free throws before Momcilovic buried a fadeaway jumper to establish an 85-75 lead. Kentucky closed out the remaining minutes comfortably and will officially open the regular season on Tuesday by hosting Manhattan at Rupp Arena at 7 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.

As the current roster begins its campaign under head coach Mark Pope, the program has also seen former players transition into new collegiate environments. Guard Collin Chandler, who suited up for Kentucky as a sophomore, recently reflected on his time in Lexington after transferring to BYU. Chandler committed to Kentucky while serving a two-year church mission, joining Pope despite never having visited the campus beforehand. In his year with the Wildcats, Chandler operated primarily as a perimeter shooter, converting 41 percent of his 3-point attempts on 178 tries from beyond the arc.

Chandler explained that while he and his wife, Hannah, enjoyed their stay at Kentucky, the desire to be closer to family prompted his move back to his home state under BYU head coach Kevin Young. Chandler expressed deep gratitude for Pope's patience in guiding his physical recovery and conditioning after his mission. With Kentucky now turning toward its regular-season slate, the Wildcats and former players like Chandler each embark on fresh opportunities across college basketball.