FINAL: Kentucky's impressive 2nd half run takes down Alabama 90-81

After trailing by as many as 13 points late in the first half, Kentucky went on a national championship-level run.

Despite missing both of its starting backcourt players in TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler, the No. 4 Wildcats demolished No. 25 Alabama over the course of the final 25 minutes to secure a 90-81 win against the Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon in Rupp Arena. Kentucky was down 41-28 with roughly five minutes left in the first half before taking a one-point lead into the half. From then on, it was all ‘Cats everything.

In fact, it was the Kellan Grady Show for Kentucky, as he dropped in a season-high 25 points on seven-made triples, which tied his season-high. He also chipped in three rebounds, three assists, and a steal while playing 39 minutes. Grady shot 9-16 from the field and 7-9 from distance.

Don’t call it a comeback 😼 pic.twitter.com/TEzH09JulB

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 19, 2022

Alabama began the afternoon on a completely different note than the first matchup down in Tuscaloosa. The Tide wouldn’t shoot 3-30 from beyond the arc this time around. ‘Bama opened the contest making eight of its first 11 3-point attempts, quickly jumping out to an early lead. Kentucky was trading 2s as Alabama’s advantage continued to grow.

But a switch was flipped with five minutes left until halftime. Grady began to enforce his will on the game while the ‘Cats were getting to the free-throw line regularly. At one point, Kentucky rattled off a 13-0 run. A 13-point deficit quickly turned into a one-point lead at the intermission for UK.

Not much changed out of the break. Kentucky struck first, second, and third, ballooning its lead to double-digits midway through the half. With Grady running point guard, his confidence was at an all-time high as he was firing up any and all shot attempts. UK’s lead would grow to as many as 15 points before settling on the 90-81 win.

Grady’s 25 points make him the fifth Wildcat to reach that mark this season. He was joined in double-figures by the likes of Oscar Tshiebwe, who added 21 points and 14 rebounds, along with Keion Brooks Jr. (18) and Jacob Toppin (13). Kentucky shot 53 percent for the game while turning the ball over just seven times. Additionally, UK outrebounded Alabama 39-32 and recorded more points in the paint, 36-24.