Koby Brea led the 10th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats to a thrilling 106-100 victory over the 6th-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday, marking Florida’s first defeat of the season. Brea came off the bench to score 23 points, including an impressive seven 3-pointers.
The Gators, who now hold a record of 13 wins and 1 loss in the Southeastern Conference, managed to narrow Kentucky’s lead from 80-69 to just 89-87 with Walter Clayton Jr.’s free throws with 4:40 left on the clock. However, Lamont Butler made a crucial 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, followed by two free throws to secure the win for the Wildcats, who improved their record to 12-2.
Clayton had a standout performance for Florida, scoring 33 points, 12 of which contributed to an 18-9 run during the game. Alijah Martin also played a key role, netting 20 of his 26 points in the second half as Florida attempted to fight back from a 52-42 halftime deficit. Butler finished with 19 points and eight assists, helping to propel six Kentucky players into double-digit scoring.
In terms of game strategy, Florida capitalized on offensive rebounding, accumulating 15 offensive boards that translated into 31 second-chance points. In contrast, Kentucky initially struggled, being out-rebounded 12-2 in the first ten minutes, but later regained momentum to end with a 16-9 rebounding advantage for the rest of the half.
A pivotal moment occurred when Florida had cut Kentucky’s lead to 70-69. Following a timeout called by Coach Todd Golden, the Wildcats quickly extended their lead by scoring the next ten points. On the stats front, it was notable that Florida had held its previous four opponents to just 20% shooting from beyond the arc, yet Kentucky shot a remarkable 48% with 14 successful 3-pointers.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play again on Tuesday night, with Florida hosting the top-ranked Tennessee and Kentucky traveling to face Georgia.
