Lamont Butler scores career-high 33 points to help No. 5 Kentucky beat rival Louisville 93-85
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Lamont Butler returned from a two-game absence to shoot perfect from the field for a career-high 33 points, including six 3-pointers, and No. 5 Kentucky held off rival Louisville 93-85 on Saturday for Bluegrass supremacy.
Kentucky (10-1) shot 58%, including 70% before halftime, but needed every basket to stay clear of the Cardinals (6-5). Butler, who made all 10 of his shot attempts, provided a boost with three consecutive 3-pointers coming out of the break and 14 of Kentucky’s first 16 points overall, including a layup for a 59-49 cushion.
Louisville got it to 64-61, but Kentucky mounted several small spurts for double-digit leads that withstood several Cardinal rallies. Otega Oweh added eight key points down the stretch, including a three-point play to make it 89-79 with 43 seconds remaining.
Kentucky won for the 10th time in 12 meetings.
Chucky Hepburn scored 26 points and Terrence Edwards Jr. 23 for Louisville, which shot just 44.3% but made a season-best 14 3s.
Butler topped his previous best of 23, and Oweh finished with 17 on 7-of-11 shooting.
Louisville: Strong perimeter shooting by Edwards and Hepburn kept the short-handed Cardinals close, but they couldn't stop Butler.
Kentucky: The Wildcats outrebounded Louisville 41-31 and made 11 of 21 from deep. All of it came in handy.
Some pushing ensued in front of Louisville's bench after Brandon Garrison stood over Reyne Smith when he dove for a loose ball. Garrison was only called for a common foul.
Kentucky shot 18 of 28 from the line, while Louisville made nine of just 14 attempts.
Louisville resumes Atlantic Coast Conference play at Florida State next Saturday. Kentucky faces Ohio State on Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic in New York.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | Â | J'Vonne Hadley vs. Amari Williams (Jaxson Robinson gains possession) | Â |
| 19:47 |  | Â | Noah Waterman personal foul | Â |
| 19:31 | | +2 | Amari Williams makes two point jump shot | 0-2 |
| 19:10 | | +3 | Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot | 3-2 |
| 18:59 | | +2 | Jaxson Robinson makes two point jump shot (Lamont Butler assists) | 3-4 |
| 18:44 | | Â | Reyne Smith misses two point floating jump shot | Â |
| 18:42 | | Â | Lamont Butler defensive rebound | Â |
| 18:28 | | Â | Lamont Butler turnover (bad pass) (Chucky Hepburn steals) | Â |
| 18:19 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley misses two point driving layup | Â |
| 18:17 | | Â | Amari Williams defensive rebound | Â |
| 18:13 | | +2 | Otega Oweh makes two point driving dunk (Lamont Butler assists) | 3-6 |
| 17:58 | | Â | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 17:56 | | Â | Noah Waterman offensive rebound | Â |
| 17:53 | | +2 | Noah Waterman makes two point tip layup | 5-6 |
| 17:49 | | Â | James Scott shooting foul (Andrew Carr draws the foul) | Â |
| 17:49 | | +1 | Andrew Carr makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-7 |
| 17:49 | | +1 | Andrew Carr makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-8 |
| 17:34 | | Â | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 17:32 | | Â | Jaxson Robinson defensive rebound | Â |
| 17:21 | | +3 | Jaxson Robinson makes three point jump shot (Amari Williams assists) | 5-11 |
| 17:07 | | Â | Chucky Hepburn turnover (bad pass) (Amari Williams steals) | Â |
| 17:02 | | +3 | Lamont Butler makes three point jump shot (Otega Oweh assists) | 5-14 |
| 16:59 | | Â | Cardinals 30 second timeout | Â |
| 16:50 | | +2 | J'Vonne Hadley makes two point driving layup | 7-14 |
| 16:37 | | Â | Otega Oweh misses two point floating jump shot | Â |
| 16:35 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound | Â |
| 16:27 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 16:25 | | Â | Reyne Smith offensive rebound | Â |
| 16:20 | | +2 | Terrence Edwards Jr. makes two point floating jump shot | 9-14 |
| 16:05 | | Â | Amari Williams misses two point layup | Â |
| 16:03 | | Â | Cardinals defensive rebound | Â |
| 15:44 | | Â | Khani Rooths misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 15:42 | | Â | Lamont Butler defensive rebound | Â |
| 15:36 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 15:26 | | Â | Brandon Garrison misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 15:24 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound | Â |
| 15:16 | | Â | Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 15:14 | | Â | Andrew Carr defensive rebound | Â |
| 15:07 | | +3 | Lamont Butler makes three point jump shot (Andrew Carr assists) | 9-17 |
| 14:57 | | Â | Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 14:55 | | Â | Lamont Butler defensive rebound | Â |
| 14:51 | | +2 | Andrew Carr makes two point dunk (Lamont Butler assists) | 9-19 |
| 14:24 | | Â | Andrew Carr blocks Chucky Hepburn's two point driving layup | Â |
| 14:22 | | Â | Jaxson Robinson defensive rebound | Â |
| 14:04 | | Â | Brandon Garrison turnover (traveling) | Â |
| 13:43 | | +3 | Terrence Edwards Jr. makes three point jump shot | 12-19 |
| 13:30 | | Â | Jaxson Robinson turnover (bad pass) (James Scott steals) | Â |
| 13:24 | | +2 | James Scott makes two point driving dunk | 14-19 |
| 13:09 | | +3 | Koby Brea makes three point jump shot (Brandon Garrison assists) | 14-22 |
| 12:33 | | Â | Terrence Edwards Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 12:31 | | Â | Amari Williams defensive rebound | Â |
| 12:15 | | +2 | Otega Oweh makes two point cutting layup (Amari Williams assists) | 14-24 |
| 12:02 | | +2 | Reyne Smith makes two point floating jump shot | 16-24 |
| 11:33 | | +2 | Koby Brea makes two point layup | 16-26 |
| 11:19 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley misses two point layup | Â |
| 11:17 | | Â | Amari Williams defensive rebound | Â |
| 11:11 | | +2 | Otega Oweh makes two point driving dunk (Amari Williams assists) | 16-28 |
| 11:05 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 10:48 | | +3 | Chucky Hepburn makes three point stepback jump shot | 19-28 |
| 10:36 | | +2 | Koby Brea makes two point cutting dunk (Amari Williams assists) | 19-30 |
| 10:09 | | +3 | Terrence Edwards Jr. makes three point jump shot | 22-30 |
| 9:57 | | Â | Terrence Edwards Jr. shooting foul (Amari Williams draws the foul) | Â |
| 9:57 | | Â | Amari Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â |
| 9:57 | | Â | Amari Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â |
| 9:57 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley defensive rebound | Â |
| 9:50 | | Â | Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 9:48 | | Â | Amari Williams defensive rebound | Â |
| 9:43 | | Â | Chucky Hepburn shooting foul (Lamont Butler draws the foul) | Â |
| 9:43 | | Â | Lamont Butler misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â |
| 9:43 | | Â | Lamont Butler misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â |
| 9:43 | | Â | Noah Waterman defensive rebound | Â |
| 9:27 | | Â | Otega Oweh personal foul (Terrence Edwards Jr. draws the foul) | Â |
| 9:09 | | Â | Terrence Edwards Jr. misses two point layup | Â |
| 9:07 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley offensive rebound | Â |
| 9:04 | | Â | Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 9:02 | | Â | Amari Williams defensive rebound | Â |
| 8:38 | | Â | Koby Brea misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 8:36 | | Â | Amari Williams offensive rebound | Â |
| 8:24 | | Â | Andrew Carr misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 8:22 | | Â | Cardinals defensive rebound | Â |
| 7:58 | | Â | Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 7:56 | | Â | Chucky Hepburn offensive rebound | Â |
| 7:46 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 7:46 | | Â | Otega Oweh personal foul | Â |
| 7:44 | | +3 | Noah Waterman makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists) | 25-30 |
| 7:19 | | +2 | Andrew Carr makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaxson Robinson assists) | 25-32 |
| 6:51 | | +3 | Terrence Edwards Jr. makes three point jump shot | 28-32 |
| 6:34 | | Â | Khani Rooths personal foul | Â |
| 6:17 | | Â | James Scott shooting foul (Lamont Butler draws the foul) | Â |
| 6:17 | | +1 | Lamont Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-33 |
| 6:17 | | +1 | Lamont Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-34 |
| 6:06 | | Â | Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 6:04 | | Â | Koby Brea defensive rebound | Â |
| 5:36 | | Â | Jaxson Robinson turnover | Â |
| 5:23 | | Â | Jaxson Robinson personal foul (Khani Rooths draws the foul) | Â |
| 5:08 | | +2 | Terrence Edwards Jr. makes two point turnaround jump shot | 30-34 |
| 4:47 | | Â | Terrence Edwards Jr. shooting foul (Amari Williams draws the foul) | Â |
| 4:47 | | +1 | Amari Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-35 |
| 4:47 | | +1 | Amari Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-36 |
| 4:35 | | Â | Terrence Edwards Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 4:33 | | Â | Noah Waterman offensive rebound | Â |
| 4:33 | | Â | Ansley Almonor shooting foul (Noah Waterman draws the foul) | Â |
| 4:33 | | +1 | Noah Waterman makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-36 |
| 4:33 | | Â | Noah Waterman misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â |
| 4:33 | | Â | Ansley Almonor defensive rebound | Â |
| 4:09 | | Â | Amari Williams misses two point layup | Â |
| 4:07 | | Â | Reyne Smith defensive rebound | Â |
| 3:53 | | Â | Terrence Edwards Jr. misses two point layup | Â |
| 3:51 | | Â | Amari Williams defensive rebound | Â |
| 3:44 | | +3 | Jaxson Robinson makes three point jump shot (Lamont Butler assists) | 31-39 |
| 3:43 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 3:30 | | Â | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 3:28 | | Â | Wildcats defensive rebound | Â |
| 3:10 | | Â | Koby Brea misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 3:08 | | Â | Cardinals defensive rebound | Â |
| 3:08 | | Â | Andrew Carr personal foul | Â |
| 2:56 | | +2 | Chucky Hepburn makes two point layup | 33-39 |
| 2:56 | | Â | Koby Brea shooting foul (Chucky Hepburn draws the foul) | Â |
| 2:56 | | +1 | Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 34-39 |
| 2:47 | | +2 | Lamont Butler makes two point layup (Andrew Carr assists) | 34-41 |
| 2:21 | | Â | Chucky Hepburn misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | Â |
| 2:19 | | Â | Brandon Garrison defensive rebound | Â |
| 2:12 | | Â | James Scott shooting foul (Brandon Garrison draws the foul) | Â |
| 2:12 | | Â | Brandon Garrison misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â |
| 2:12 | | +1 | Brandon Garrison makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-42 |
| 1:57 | | +2 | J'Vonne Hadley makes two point layup | 36-42 |
| 1:57 | | Â | Brandon Garrison shooting foul (J'Vonne Hadley draws the foul) | Â |
| 1:57 | | +1 | J'Vonne Hadley makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 37-42 |
| 1:48 | | Â | Terrence Edwards Jr. personal foul (Jaxson Robinson draws the foul) | Â |
| 1:48 | | +1 | Jaxson Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-43 |
| 1:48 | | +1 | Jaxson Robinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-44 |
| 1:19 | | +3 | Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (J'Vonne Hadley assists) | 40-44 |
| 1:10 | | Â | Jaxson Robinson turnover (lost ball) | Â |
| 0:56 | | Â | Brandon Garrison personal foul (J'Vonne Hadley draws the foul) | Â |
| 0:56 | | Â | J'Vonne Hadley misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â |
| 0:56 | | Â | Jaxson Robinson defensive rebound | Â |
| 0:42 | | Â | Lamont Butler turnover (traveling) | Â |
| 0:13 | | Â | Noah Waterman misses two point driving layup | Â |
| 0:11 | | Â | Amari Williams defensive rebound | Â |
| 0:01 | | +2 | Lamont Butler makes two point layup | 40-46 |
| 0:00 | | Â | End of period | Â |