FINAL: Second-half scuffle sparks No. 8 Kentucky in 105-76 win over Georgia State

A pissed-off Kentucky team is a dangerous Kentucky team.

On Friday night in Rupp Arena, the No. 8 Wildcats (7-0) used the energy it desperately needed from a second-half scuffle — which resulted in several technical fouls — to blow past Georgia State (4-4) in a 105-76 win. Seven different Kentucky players reached double-digits, led by 19 points from Jaxson Robinson and 17 more from Lamont Butler. UK struggled from deep, finishing the night just 7-26 from long range, but still managed to shoot 60 percent as a team with 62 points coming from the paint.

Four technical fouls in the middle of the second half were dolled out following a near-brawl. At the time, Kentucky led 61-53. After the officials reviewed the situation and handed out their technicals, the Wildcats finished the game on a 44-23 run. 44 total fouls were called in this game between the two teams with two Georgia State players fouling out.

Along with Robinson and Butler, Amari Williams chipped in 14 points and six rebounds (including a perfect 6-6 mark from the free throw line). Otega Oweh and Ansley Almonor added 12 points apiece while Andrew Carr and Koby Brea went for 10 each. UK turned the ball over just nine times while dishing out 23 assists.

A 7-0 start to the season is Kentucky’s best since the 2016-17 campaign.

Georgia State came out determined to give Kentucky a good fight. The Panthers executed about as well as they could have asked for throughout most of the first half. It took a few segments for Kentucky to find a rhythm offensively, but once they did, a double-digit lead soon followed. Georgia State remained close though and actually trailed by just two points with 5:06 left in the half. Then Kentucky caught fire.

The Wildcats finished the opening half on a 17-4 run to take a 48-33 lead into the intermission. Butler led all scorers with 13 points on 5-6 shooting while three more Wildcats had eight points. Despite a 4-11 mark from deep in the first half, UK still shot 67.9 percent overall. It was hardly a perfect 20 minutes of play for the ‘Cats, but a 15-point lead was satisfactory.

The beginning of the second half, however, would be the complete opposite until a midcourt scuffle flipped the momentum. Georgia State started the second half 4-5 from deep and trimmed Kentucky’s lead back down to just six points. But once Panthers’ forward Clash Peters (appropriately named) shoved Williams on a post-up, the officials (and head coach Mark Pope) had to step in.

After the shove that sent Williams to the ground, several players and coaches from both sides went in to break it up. As the dust settled, Peters was tagged with a technical and a flagrant foul while Nutter was assessed a technical foul for Georgia State. For Kentucky, Oweh and Brea were hit with technicals for their involvement in the scuffle. Williams responded by scoring six straight for the ‘Cats.

Kentucky went on a 14-5 run over the next few minutes to regain control. With under eight minutes to go, UK took a commanding 81-61 lead as five Wildcats were now up to double-figures. Kentucky was hardly done rubbing it in though, as the advantage would quickly balloon to 30-plus down the stretch. Trent Noah and Travis Perry would check in with under two minutes left to put the icing on the cake.

Up next: Kentucky will hit the road for the first time since Nov. 12 when they travel to play the Clemson Tigers on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Tipoff on ESPN is set for 9:30 p.m. EST.