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Lamont Butler leads all scorers with a career high of thirty-three points and was perfect from the field 10/10 2PT FG and 7/7 3PT FG.
David Leveridge- Sports View America 12-14-24- Lexington, KY

The annual battle of the bluegrass between The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville Cardinals took place today in Rupp Arena. Both teams featured first year coaches Pat Kelsey for Louisville and Mark Pope for Kentucky. Both teams are trying to restore the program’s storied history and today’s game was the first time each coach has taken part in the Historic Rivalry. Both teams had major roster overhauls and Kentucky did not have a single player who was on last year’s team.

The game today was one of the biggest games of the year at Rupp Arena as fans from both teams packed the arena and the excitement was through the roof. Before the Game Kentucky released a video from former players who wrote a letter to the current team talking about how this was not just a normal game, and the Louisville game is special. Entering the game Kentucky Pg Lamont Butler status was undetermined after missing the last two games. Not only did Butler play in the game but his play was phenomenal, finishing the game with a career high with thirty-three points and was the star of the game. Butler’s shooting was perfect from the field finishing 10/10 from the field and 7/7 from 3Pt line. Butlers’ performance was good enough for third all-time in field goals made without a miss and second all-time in 3Pt FG made without a miss.

Kentucky jumped out to a big lead early in the game and developed a comfortable twelve-point lead midway through the first half. Louisville responded making multiple three-point attempts and the Louisville stars of PG Chucky Hepburn and Shooting guard SG Terrence Edwards Jr combined for forty-nine points and made a combined nine three points. Louisville kept the game close throughout the first half, usually trailing 5- 8 points for most of the half. In the second half the game continued to be close and when Kentucky made a run, only to be countered by Louisville scoring the ball on 3 PT field goals. In the closing minutes of the game Kentucky SG Ortega Oweh delivered in critical moments scoring Kentucky’s last nine point of the game. Oweh was impressive during this stretch knocking down a 3 PT FG, driving to the basket with a thunderous dunk, stealing the ball and converting on a layup and connected on a free throw attempt.

In the end Kentucky won the game 93-85 in a very entertaining and hard-fought victory. First half – In the first half of the game Kentucky opened the game on fire and led 14- 5 at the first media timeout. Kentucky was also perfect from the field and each starter scored early in the half. Oweh had two dunks driving to the basket and the Rupp Arena crowd was loud and excited. Coach Kelsey called a timeout and Louisville responded cutting the lead to five points Hepburn began to get comfortable with the ball in his hands and started to connect from long range. Kentucky then goes on another run and grew the lead to twelve points midway through the first half. Rupp Areana was once again loud, and the Kentucky players could feel the excitement from the crowd.

Louisville continued to fight and once again cut the lead to a manageable lead of five points. Kentucky’s SG Jacson Robinson provided a spark connecting a 3 PT Basket and finished the half with ten points. Butler had an exceptional half and led Kentucky to scoring with twelve points. At intermission Kentucky led Louisville 46-40 in a very entertaining and highly competitive game.

Second Half- Kentucky opened the half with an 11- run and quickly grew the lead to ten points at the first media timeout. Butler continued to shine and scored nine of the first eleven points in the half. Louisville would not go away and the 3PT shooting from Hepburn and Edwards once again cut the lead to a manageable five to seven points. Midways through the half UK Center was going for a loose ball near the Louisville bench and resulted in several players from both teams being involved in skirmish.

The players had to separated and tempers flared. At one point Coach Pope had to go to the Louisville sideline and restrain his players. After review by the officials no technical fouls called and no one was ejected from the game. Bad blood between the teams in a rivalry game had both teams determined not to back down, and while this situation could have been out of hand the situation was managed great by both coaches.

In the closing minutes of the game and still undecided. Oweh delivered, scoring the last nine Kentucky points. Oweh was phenomenal during this stretch as he connected on a three-point basket, drove the lane with a strong handed dunk, stole the ball finishing the play with a layup and completing the play making a free throw. Kentucky survived the battle of the Bluegrass and defeated Louisville 93-85.

Kentucky improves on the season with an overall record of ten wins and one loss. Kentucky will not play again until next Saturday, traveling to New York City to battle the Ohio State Buckeyes in the CBS Sports Challenge. The game is set to tip off at 5:30 pm on ESPN. Louisville drops on the season to an overall record of six wins and five losses, Louisville next game will be December 21 traveling to Florida State University and will continue ACC Play.