{"id":14562,"date":"2026-01-15T04:06:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T04:06:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/moreno-game-winner-kentucky-lsu\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T04:06:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T04:06:53","slug":"moreno-game-winner-kentucky-lsu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/moreno-game-winner-kentucky-lsu\/","title":{"rendered":"Moreno\u2019s Game Winner Lifts Cats Past Tigers &#8211; UK Athletics"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> Freshman Malachi Moreno hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer to lift Kentucky to a 75-74 victory over LSU on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge. The Wildcats erased a 16-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Tigers 53-36 in the second half to force the final possession. With 1.6 seconds remaining, Collin Chandler moved the ball to the opposite free-throw line where Moreno caught, turned and sank the decisive shot as time expired. The finish completed a comeback that kept Kentucky at 11-6 overall and 2-2 in SEC play.<\/p>\n<section>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Kentucky 75, LSU 74 \u2014 Malachi Moreno\u2019s buzzer jumper ended the game after 1.6 seconds remained.<\/li>\n<li>Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 21 points; Denzel Aberdeen added 17, Andrija Jelavic had 11, and Moreno finished with 10.<\/li>\n<li>The Wildcats trailed 38-22 at halftime but outscored LSU 53-36 in the second half to rally.<\/li>\n<li>Kentucky improved to 11-6 overall and 2-2 in the Southeastern Conference with the road win.<\/li>\n<li>Key late-game moments included a Williams steal-and-dunk that briefly gave UK its first lead and an Oweh free-throw sequence with 17.4 seconds remaining.<\/li>\n<li>LSU missed two critical free throws with 1.6 seconds left, creating the opportunity for the game-winning play.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Kentucky entered Wednesday\u2019s meeting with LSU still searching for consistency in a demanding SEC slate. The Wildcats began the season with high expectations but had mixed results against top conference opponents, making road wins in hostile environments especially valuable. LSU, playing at home in Baton Rouge, established a strong early tempo and capitalized on Kentucky\u2019s slow start to build a double-digit cushion.<\/p>\n<p>The programs meet frequently in league play and regional recruiting battles, so single outcomes often carry outsized emotional and standing implications beyond the win-loss column. For Kentucky, a late comeback on the road helps shore up confidence and provides momentum heading into a tough stretch of January games. For LSU, the loss after holding a large lead raises questions about closing ability and free-throw execution in pressure moments.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>LSU set the tone early, scoring the game\u2019s first six points and building a sizable advantage through the first half. The Tigers closed the period on a 38-22 lead after stretching the Wildcats defensively and converting a number of early possessions. Kentucky missed its first four field-goal attempts but gradually found answers through inside play and perimeter shooting as the half wore on.<\/p>\n<p>The Wildcats reversed the momentum after halftime, led by Oweh\u2019s scoring and Aberdeen\u2019s perimeter shooting. Jelavic and Kam Williams hit timely triples while Chandler provided lift in transition, allowing UK to chip away at LSU\u2019s advantage. Kentucky\u2019s defense tightened and the Wildcats won the paint battle in the second half, outscoring LSU 53-36 after intermission.<\/p>\n<p>The closing minutes featured several lead changes. Williams\u2019 steal and fastbreak dunk gave Kentucky its first lead of the night, though LSU quickly retook control. With 2:24 left Moreno scored to briefly put UK ahead, and LSU reclaimed a one-point edge with free throws at 1:40. A later Oweh free-throw attempt and a missed LSU free-throw left Kentucky with a final inbound after 1.6 seconds remained.<\/p>\n<p>On the final play, Chandler attacked upcourt and delivered a pass to Moreno at the opposite free-throw line. Moreno caught the pass, created space with a quick pivot and released a jumper that fell as the horn sounded, sealing Kentucky\u2019s 75-74 victory. The Wildcats will travel to Tennessee on Saturday for a noon ET tip on ESPN.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Kentucky\u2019s comeback underscores the team\u2019s second-half adjustments and depth; trailing by 16 at the break, the Wildcats&#8217; 53-point half was driven by improved shot selection and more active defense. Coach adjustments to rotation and defensive matchups helped slow LSU\u2019s early efficiency and opened driving lanes for Oweh and Chandler. The result highlights Kentucky\u2019s ability to execute in late-clock scenarios despite earlier offensive lapses.<\/p>\n<p>Moreno\u2019s shot adds an early confidence milestone for the freshman, who finished with 10 points and delivered in the most consequential moment. Oweh\u2019s 21 points reinforced his role as Kentucky\u2019s primary scorer and go-to option in tight games, while Aberdeen\u2019s 17 points stretched defenses and supplied crucial perimeter scoring. The win also exposes LSU\u2019s late-game free-throw execution as an area for immediate correction.<\/p>\n<p>In the SEC context, the victory keeps Kentucky\u2019s profile intact as a team capable of winning on the road, which matters for tournament seeding and perception. Tennessee looms on Saturday, and Kentucky will need to carry both the momentum and the lessons from the comeback\u2014particularly early-game focus and consistent free-throw defense\u2014into that matchup. For LSU, the loss signals a need to close out games and protect leads in conference play.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Team<\/th>\n<th>1st Half<\/th>\n<th>2nd Half<\/th>\n<th>Final<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Kentucky<\/td>\n<td>22<\/td>\n<td>53<\/td>\n<td>75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>LSU<\/td>\n<td>38<\/td>\n<td>36<\/td>\n<td>74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The scoreboard shows Kentucky&#8217;s dramatic second-half reversal: the Wildcats added 53 points after the break compared with just 22 in the first half. That 31-point swing in halves was the decisive factor. Top individual contributions came from Otega Oweh (21), Denzel Aberdeen (17) and Andrija Jelavic (11), with Moreno\u2019s 10 points including the crucial final field goal. Statistically, Kentucky\u2019s second-half offensive rebounding and turnover management improved enough to offset the deficit created by a slow opening period.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Kentucky&#8217;s postgame reactions emphasized belief and composure during the comeback. Coaches and players highlighted the importance of execution in the final possession and credited role players for key stops and baskets during the second half.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We stayed composed and executed the final play the way we practiced \u2014 Malachi made a great shot.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>UK postgame (coach remarks)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The coaching staff framed Moreno&#8217;s finish as the result of preparation and trust in young players. Staff comments focused on reinforcing positive habits while correcting the early-game lapses that allowed LSU to build a large lead.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a special moment for a freshman to step up like that; he kept his head and took the shot confidently.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>UK postgame (team representative)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>From LSU&#8217;s perspective, the reaction centered on missed free throws in the final seconds and a failed bid to close out a strong first-half performance. Team officials acknowledged the need to tighten late-game fundamentals despite productive stretches earlier in the contest.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: late-clock and free-throw dynamics<\/summary>\n<p>In college basketball, a possession with 1.6 seconds typically requires a catch-and-shoot or an immediate finishing move; effective inbound timing and precise passing are crucial. Free-throw misses in the final two seconds can be decisive because they leave only a short window for a full-court or catch-and-shoot response. The shot clock review mentioned in the game \u2014 where a made basket was ruled after the shot clock expired \u2014 illustrates how timing and officiating reviews can directly affect final possession outcomes. Teams that practice end-of-clock scenarios generally give themselves better odds in one-possession games.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<section>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Precise officiating rationale for the midfinal ruling on Oweh\u2019s shot clock timing has not been released by officials; further review transcripts were not available at the time of publication.<\/li>\n<li>Any internal evaluation of LSU\u2019s late free-throw breakdowns or potential disciplinary decisions has not been publicly disclosed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Kentucky\u2019s 75-74 road win in Baton Rouge was defined by a resilient second half and a freshman\u2019s composed buzzer-beater. The victory preserves Kentucky\u2019s standing in the SEC and provides a tangible confidence boost ahead of a tough trip to Tennessee on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>For LSU, the game will be a lesson in closing protocol: a dominant first half was not enough without late-game free-throw discipline and defensive stops. Both programs will now pivot quickly to league matchups where margin for error is small and single plays can shift momentum across the conference race.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ukathletics.com\/news\/2026\/01\/14\/morenos-game-winner-lifts-cats-past-tigers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UK Athletics official game recap<\/a> \u2014 Official team release and game notes.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ukathletics.com\/sports\/mens-basketball\/boxscore.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Box score (PDF) \u2014 UK Athletics<\/a> \u2014 Official box score and statistics.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/scoreboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN scoreboard and schedule<\/a> \u2014 Broadcaster\/league schedule reference for upcoming Tennessee game.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: Freshman Malachi Moreno hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer to lift Kentucky to a 75-74 victory over LSU on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge. The Wildcats erased a 16-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Tigers 53-36 in the second half to force the final possession. With 1.6 seconds remaining, Collin Chandler moved the ball &#8230; <a title=\"Moreno\u2019s Game Winner Lifts Cats Past Tigers &#8211; UK Athletics\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/moreno-game-winner-kentucky-lsu\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Moreno\u2019s Game Winner Lifts Cats Past Tigers &#8211; UK Athletics\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14559,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Moreno\u2019s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Kentucky Past LSU | UK Athletics","rank_math_description":"Freshman Malachi Moreno hit a buzzer jumper to lift Kentucky to a 75-74 win at LSU, capping a 53-point second-half rally and preserving UK\u2019s SEC momentum.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Malachi Moreno,Kentucky,LSU,buzzer-beater,SEC","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14562"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14562\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}