Kentucky men’s basketball (13-6, 4-2 SEC) took down Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3 SEC) 72-63, surviving yet another late rally, giving the Cats their fifth straight SEC win. 

The Wildcats entered the matchup seeking their fifth consecutive win since Jan. 10, and after defeating the Rebels, Kentucky set a season high with its longest consecutive win streak this season.

With Kam Williams suffering a broken foot in the Cats’ game Wednesday against Texas, Collin Chandler was put back into the starting five.

In the absence of Williams, Chandler put up a career-high 18-point performance against the Longhorns, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, while also totaling seven rebounds and two assists. 

It was a special game for one Ole Miss player in particular, as former Kentucky Wildcat and 2024 Mr. Kentucky Basketball Travis Perry returned to Rupp for the first time since transferring after last season. 

It was an uninspiring start for both teams in the first five minutes, with the Cats and Rebels combining for only 12 points and both shooting under 25% from the field. 

Kentucky opened with two free throws, but would go on a over two-minute scoring drought, before finding its first field goal of the game at the 16-minute mark with an Andrija Jelavic three-pointer.

Kentucky would take its first lead six minutes into the game, with a Trent Noah steal leading to a Mo Dioubate layup, the Cats going up 9-7.

The Wildcat struggled early on, scoring only 11 points in the first 10 minutes while shooting 20% from the field and 11% from the three-point line. 

Ole Miss went on a 6-0 scoring run to retake the lead, as Kentucky got caught up, committing three turnovers in just three minutes, nailing only one of seven straight shots.  

Jasper Johnson alone would respond to Kentucky’s drought with an 8-0 scoring run off three straight scores, nailing two three-pointers and a jumper in just a minute-and-a-half, putting the Cats up 19-15 with 7:20 left in the first half.

However, the Cats would just as quickly go another three minutes without a basket. Luckily, the Rebels weren’t having any success of their own, shooting just 26% from the field at the 16-minute mark, which allowed Kentucky to stay ahead.

The Cats found some rhythm offensively, going on a 7-0 scoring run and scoring on five of seven straight, and a Trent Noah three-pointer gave Kentucky a double-digit point lead, up 29-19 with two and a half minutes left in the first.

However, three straight fouls on the Cats in the final two minutes allowed the Rebels to cut the deficit, but Kentucky still took a 29-23 lead heading into the half.

The Wildcat ended the half shooting 32% form the field and 25% form the three, without a single player scoring in double digits.

Chandler opened up the second half for UK with a three-pointer, followed by two free throws from Otega Oweh, who would follow up with a poster dunk to send Rupp Arena on its feet, the Cats taking a 37-29 lead heading into a timeout.

Ole Miss came out of the break hot, going on a 7-0 scoring run to cut the Cats’ lead to one, and the Rebels would eventually tie it up – but Johsnon wouldn’t let the score stay equal for long, draining a deep three with just under 13 minutes left. 

It was back and forth until Kentucky hit another scoring drought, allowing the Rebels to stay within a score, and as the Cats’ field goal drought stretched to over three minutes, Ole Miss was back within one. 

After four minutes, Kentucky found its first field goal with an Oweh three-pointer, who eventually ended with a season-high 23 points, marking his fifth conference game and six of his last ten games with 20 or more points.

The remainder of the contest stayed within only one or two scores, but through it all, Kentucky had the slight edge, and while Ole Miss attempted a late rally to pull off the comeback, a deep three from Chandler would seal the deal for the Cats.

Kentucky ended the game shooting just 36% from the field and 29.6% from the three-point line.

Kentucky will return to action next Tuesday, Jan. 27, heading to Nashville as they face No. 15 Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-3 SEC). Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST and will air live on ESPN.