Dontaie Allen named SEC Freshman of the Week

Dontaie Allen’s breakout game at Mississippi State did not going unnoticed. Allen was just named SEC Freshman of the Week for his 23-point performance in Starkville, which spearheaded the Cats’ come-from-behind double overtime victory. He is the first Kentucky player to earn a weekly award from the league this season.

Allen had career highs in points (23), threes (7), rebounds (4) and minutes (32) on Saturday. The redshirt freshman was 8-13 from the floor, 7-11 from behind the arc. He is the sixth freshman in program history to make seven or more 3-pointers in a game and the first player to hit at least seven since Immanuel Quickley’s eight vs. Texas A&M on Feb. 25, 2020.

With the Cats down 50-41, Allen hit two 3-pointers during a 10-0 run to turn a nine-point deficit into a 56-55 Kentucky advantage. He also hit a three with 1:34 remaining in regulation to tie the game, as well as a three during the first overtime that nearly won the game. Allen scored five consecutive points in the second overtime to extend a one-point lead to 76-70 en route to the comeback win.

“I don’t think it was pressure only because I put in the work,” Allen said after Saturday’s game. “I didn’t know when my opportunity was going to come. Obviously, it could have come today, next week or next month. Nobody knows, so I was just keeping my head down and just working hard. I am thankful for the opportunity I had tonight.”

Congrats, Dontaie!