On a chilly Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team delivered a game for the ages, clawing their way back from an 18-point second-half deficit to stun the LSU Tigers, 75-74. The hero? None other than freshman Malachi Moreno, whose buzzer-beating jumper as time expired etched his name into Kentucky lore and sent the Wildcats faithful into a frenzy.
Let’s set the stage: Kentucky, already shorthanded without Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance due to injury, looked like a team in trouble. The first half was, well, ugly. The Wildcats couldn’t buy a bucket, coughed up turnovers, and their defense left much to be desired. LSU took full advantage, racing out to a 38-22 halftime lead. Kentucky’s offense sputtered, going just 1-10 from the field early, and coach Mark Pope was forced to call a timeout down 16-3. As one observer put it, "Very little went right for Kentucky in the first half. Poor shooting, poor effort, poor defense."
But as any seasoned college hoops fan knows, no lead is safe in the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky came out of the locker room with renewed energy. Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen ignited the comeback, draining threes and attacking the rim. Aberdeen, in particular, was relentless, scoring 17 points and hitting clutch shots to chip away at the Tigers’ advantage. Oweh, who led the Wildcats with 21 points, started to heat up as well. According to the official recap, "Oweh has made his last few shots, and they need him to get going." And get going he did.
Yet, it wasn’t just offense that sparked the turnaround. Kentucky’s defense tightened up. Mo Dioubate delivered a crucial block that led to Oweh free throws, and Kam Williams came up with a pivotal steal and breakaway dunk to give Kentucky its first lead of the night. The momentum had shifted, but the drama was just beginning.
LSU, to their credit, refused to fold. The Tigers answered every Kentucky run with big baskets and timely threes, holding onto slim leads as the clock wound down. With just over two minutes left, Moreno, playing with four fouls, converted a three-point play to pull Kentucky within four. Oweh then buried a three-pointer to make it a one-point game, and after another LSU basket, Williams’ steal and dunk put the Wildcats ahead for the first time.
But this see-saw battle was far from over. LSU quickly regained the lead with a pair of free throws, and after a frantic exchange, the Tigers found themselves up by two with 17.4 seconds remaining. Kentucky called timeout, and Oweh drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul. He made the first free throw but missed the second, leaving Kentucky trailing by one with mere seconds remaining. The Tigers had a chance to ice the game at the line but missed both free throws, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic finishes in recent Kentucky memory.
With just 1.6 seconds on the clock, Collin Chandler took the ball under his own basket. He launched a pinpoint pass the length of the court to Moreno, who leapt, caught the ball at the opposite free throw line, spun, and—under the pressure of the moment—coolly sank the game-winning jumper as the buzzer sounded. The Wildcats bench erupted, and Moreno was instantly mobbed by his teammates. As the Kentucky Athletics recap detailed, "Moreno caught it, turned and calmly hit the game winner."
What makes this finish even more remarkable is Moreno’s journey throughout the game. The freshman big man was forced to the bench for stretches due to foul trouble, picking up his fourth foul just minutes into the second half. Despite the risk, Coach Pope left him on the court, a decision that paid off in the most spectacular fashion. Moreno finished with 10 points, but none bigger than his final two.
Otega Oweh’s performance cannot be overstated. Leading the team with 21 points, he was the engine behind Kentucky’s second-half surge. Denzel Aberdeen added 17 points of his own, providing the scoring punch the Wildcats desperately needed. Andrija Jelavic chipped in 11 points, including key threes that helped Kentucky chip away at the deficit. Chandler, whose pass will be replayed for years to come, also contributed clutch plays down the stretch.
For LSU, it was a bitter pill to swallow. The Tigers controlled the game for long stretches, executing well on both ends and building a sizable lead. But missed free throws in the final seconds—a storyline that has haunted many teams—proved costly. The Tigers’ inability to capitalize on their opportunities opened the door for Kentucky’s miraculous finish.
The win lifts Kentucky to 11-6 overall and 2-2 in SEC play, keeping their conference hopes alive. It also gives the young Wildcats a signature victory, one that could serve as a turning point in their season. As one report noted, "The Wildcats could not afford to drop this one, so it’s a big win. They will have to play better, but for tonight, they can celebrate, and Malachi Moreno gets to be a hero."
Looking ahead, Kentucky faces a quick turnaround as they prepare to visit Tennessee in Knoxville on January 16, 2026. Tipoff is set for noon ET, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN. After a thrilling victory like this, the Wildcats will be eager to build on their momentum, but Coach Pope will no doubt stress the need for better starts and more consistent play.
For now, though, the story belongs to Malachi Moreno and a Kentucky squad that refused to quit. Down 18 points, shorthanded, and facing adversity at every turn, they found a way to win. Sometimes, it’s not about how you start—it’s about how you finish. And on this night in Baton Rouge, the finish was unforgettable.
