Oweh, Carr each score 18 points to help No. 8 Kentucky outlast Western Kentucky 87-68

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Kentucky’s Otega Oweh (00) shoots while pressured from behind by Western Kentucky’s Babacar Faye during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Andrew Carr (7) shoots while defended by Western Kentucky’s Babacar Faye (5) and Enoch Kalambay, middle, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Otega Oweh, right, has his shot blocked by Western Kentucky’s Khristian Lander (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Jaxson Robinson (2) shoots while guarded by Western Kentucky’s Braxton Bayless (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Amari Williams (22) and Lamont Butler (1) pressure Western Kentucky’s Khristian Lander (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Amari Williams (22) shoots while defended by Western Kentucky’s Blaise Keita, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Andrew Carr (7) pressures the shot of Western Kentucky’s Tyrone Marshall Jr., right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Kerr Kriisa (77) drives while pressured by Western Kentucky’s Khristian Lander, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Kentucky’s Lamont Butler, bottom, is defended by Western Kentucky’s Blaise Keita, top, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

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Western Kentucky head coach Hank Plona directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

By GARY B. GRAVES

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Otega Oweh and Andrew Carr each scored 18 points and No. 8 Kentucky pulled away down the stretch to beat Western Kentucky 87-68 on Tuesday night.

Oweh’s 3-pointer with 8:57 remaining was key for the cold-shooting Wildcats (6-0), who made just 25 of 62 from the field (40%) after consecutive shooting performances of at least 54% in routs of Lipscomb and Jackson State. Kentucky shot just 8 of 29 from long range and even struggled at times from the free-throw line despite making 29 of 42.

Lamont Butler had 14 points for Kentucky.

Julius Thedford had 18 points and Babacar Faye 16 for the Hilltoppers (3-3), who had won their previous three games but shot just 21 of 66 (32%).

Takeaways

Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers made it close early and got within single digits, surprising considering they made consecutive baskets just three times all night. They made up for shooting woes by making 22 of 29 from the free-throw line.

Kentucky: After several blowout wins where shots fell regularly from everywhere, the Wildcats had more cold stretches than hot. Controlling the boards 54-41 helped them outscore WKU 14-7 on second-chance points and 34-30 in the paint, helping win an uneven game.

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Key moment

Kentucky missed seven consecutive shots during one second-half stretch and only led 57-51 before Oweh’s layup provided an eight-point advantage. The Wildcats made 6 of 11 over the next 5 1/2 minutes to lead 75-57 and get the needed cushion to pull away. Amari Williams (eight points, 10 rebounds, four blocks) also had a goaltending call reversed on a later review.

Key stat

The teams combined to make just 12 of 55 from behind the arc.

Up next

Western Kentucky hosts Marshall on Saturday. Kentucky hosts Georgia State on Friday night.

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