LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Georgia State
Who’s ready for some Friday night basketball? KSR’s new and improved LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Rupp Arena as No. 8 Kentucky hosts Georgia State (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Kentucky is 6-0 and coming off a 19-point win over Western Kentucky on Tuesday. Georgia State (4-3) has also played this week, twice in fact. The Panthers lost to Austin Peay on Tuesday and beat Tulsa on Wednesday in the Jacksonville Classic. They’re led by Zarique Nutter, who averages 17.2 points per game, and Nick McMullen, who ranks No. 11 nationally in rebounds with 10.7 boards per game. The Panthers are ranked No. 219 in KenPom; next week, the competition steps up considerably as Kentucky travels to Clemson (KenPom No. 27) and Seattle to play Gonzaga (No. 5).
Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Rupp Arena and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
FINAL: Kentucky 105, Georgia State 76
11/29/2024 08:08:23 PMIt was an 8-point game before the “fight.” The Cats used that energy to open up a can of you-know-what. Amari Williams was instrumental in the second-half surge that got the Cats over the century mark with 14 points.
Take a closer look at all of the stats from the win. You also might want to change the channel to the other big sporting event happening in Georgia. The Wramblin’ Wreck is up 17-0 at halftime between the hedges.
Amari Williams takes Kentucky to the century mark
11/29/2024 08:00:31 PMFor the fourth time this season, Kentucky has scored 100+ points. A free throw to cap off an and-one by Amari Williams just took the Cats to the century mark, and Koby Brea followed it up with his second three of the night. After a pair of free throws by Kerr Kriisa and one by Toneari Lane, Kentucky leads 105.,71 with 1:15 to go.
Clash Peters just checked back in
11/29/2024 07:52:45 PMIn case you missed it earlier, Clash Peters was NOT ejected from the game after his cheap shot on Amari Williams, despite the initial signal from the referee. Peters just checked back in to a chorus of boos from the crowd. Maybe we should be thanking him because he certainly lit a fire under the Cats, who are on a 32-17 run since that moment.
At the Under-4 timeout, it’s Kentucky 95, Georgia State 70 with 3:22 to go.
Koby Brea finally hits a three!
11/29/2024 07:51:00 PMSixth time’s the charm, right? After drawing rim on his first five three-point attempts, Koby Brea finally had one drop through the net, after which he threw his hands in the air as the Rupp Arena crowd roared.
Score Update: 8:16 2H – Kentucky 79, Georgia State 61
11/29/2024 07:42:17 PMAfter missing his fourth three-point attempt of the night, Koby Brea decided to take it inside and slam it home, pushing Kentucky’s lead to 18 with 8:16 to go. Kentucky is on a 6-0 run.
“Mony Mony” is playing and we’ve got lots of Ls Down on the jumbotron. BBN is feeling good!
OTEGA OWEH!!!
11/29/2024 07:40:04 PMLexington is turning into Dunk City again. Back-to-back dunks by Otega Oweh and Amari Williams capped off a 12-3 Kentucky run. This one has been a little too close for comfort at times but could get out of hand quickly.
Score Update: 11:35 2H – Kentucky 67, Georgia State 56
11/29/2024 07:35:10 PMThe almost-fight seems to have fired the Cats back up. Williams just made this strong move to push Kentucky’s lead to 67-56.
We have a FIGHT! (sort of)
11/29/2024 07:25:37 PMWe almost had a brawl at Rupp Arena. Clash Peters (or, as Ryan Lemond referred to him on the pregame show, Chance Peters) took a cheap shot at Amari Williams in the paint, which led to some pushing and shoving by both teams, with Mark Pope and Georgia State coach Jonas Hayes both taking the floor to break up the melee. That’s a good thing because Otega Oweh looked ready to finish the fight himself.
After a lengthy review, Peters, Zarique Nutter, Koby Brea, and Otega Oweh all picked up technical fouls, and Peters a flagrant foul (although he was not thrown out). Amari Williams hit two free throws to put Kentucky up 10, 63-53.
Kentucky’s lead is down to 6…
11/29/2024 07:17:47 PMA 6-0 run by Georgia State has trimmed Kentucky’s lead to six with 13:30 to go, prompting Mark Pope to call a timeout. The Cats cannot buy a bucket beyond the arc, missing three more three-point attempts since the last timeout (15:16).
Score Update: 15:16 2H – Kentucky 59, Georgia State 47
11/29/2024 07:11:53 PMKentucky’s lead was cut to ten before a layup by Otega Oweh pushed it back to 12. Georgia State has been on fire to start the second half, making 4-5 threes. They’re now up to 8-15 (53.3%) from behind the three-point line, while the Cats are 4-13 (30.8%). Still up double digits with 15:16 to go.
Oklahoma beats Louisville (and the Rupp Arena crowd cheers)
11/29/2024 07:02:55 PMIt’s final: Oklahoma knocked off Louisville 69-64 in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship. As you might expect, that drew a big cheer from the Rupp crowd. The Cards come to Lexington in just two weeks.
HALF: Kentucky 48, Georiga State 33
11/29/2024 06:47:47 PMA Jaxson Robinson dunk takes Kentucky’s lead to 48-33 at halftime. The Cats closed the half on a 17-4 run, making seven of their last eight shots. Kentucky’s shooting 67.9% from the floor but just 36.4% from three-point range. The Cats have 11 assists to 7 turnovers and are winning the rebounding battle 16-13.
Apparently, cameras caught Mark Pope chewing out the officials walking off the floor. Time for another symposium?
You haven’t seen Rupp roar until Kerr Kriisa takes a charge
11/29/2024 06:47:36 PMThe Rupp Arena crowd was already feeling great, but Kerr Kriisa taking a charge brought them to their feet once again. Kriisa celebrating on the jumbotron just escalated the fun.
Oweh’s dunk stretches the lead to 10
11/29/2024 06:40:40 PMAnsley Almonor’s defense forced Georgia State into a turnover, and Otega Oweh finished it with a jam on the other end to stretch Kentucky’s lead back out to 10. Rupp Arena is rocking as the Wildcats build a better cushion before halftime.
Score Update: 3:35 1H – Kentucky 39, Georgia State 29
11/29/2024 06:36:44 PMThis game was starting to feel a little close, but a three-pointer by Ansley Almonor and an and-one by Andrew Carr pushed it to 37-29 Cats. Then, the roof almost came off Rupp when Almonor got a steal and pushed it ahead to Otega Oweh for a dunk. Kentucky’s lead is up to 10 with 3:35 to go until half.
Rupp Arena crowd cheers Louisville losing
11/29/2024 06:31:01 PMDuring a brief break in play, the Oklahoma vs. Louisville score was shown on the jumbotron (OK 54, UofL 51), earning a big round of applause from the crowd. Well done, person who runs the Rupp jumbotron. Go Sooners.
Score Update: 7:22 1H – Kentucky 27, Georgia State 20
11/29/2024 06:29:41 PMAt the Under-8 timeout, Kentucky leads by 7. Koby Brea’s third three-point attempt rolled out, much to the crowd’s chagrin. He’s 0-3 from the arc thus far, which just feels weird. Kentucky is just 2-8 from the outside so far. Brr.
Amari Williams picks up his second foul
11/29/2024 06:20:55 PMI doubt it will matter much in this game, but Amari Williams is headed to the bench after picking up his second foul. Andrew Carr is in for him. Layups by Ansley Almonor and Collin Chandler have pushed the lead to 24-15 Kentucky.
The Cats are warming up…
11/29/2024 06:14:29 PMAnd just like that, the Cats are up eight. Andrew Carr and Lamont Butler showed off some nifty moves inside to put the Cats up 11-8. From there, Jaxson Robinson drove the lane to hit his third bucket of the game. Another layup by Butler and a three by Ansley Almonor off a Georgia State turnover have pushed the lead to 18-10 Cats with 12:25 until half.
Kentucky is 8-11 from the floor, its only misses coming off three-point attempts (1-4).
Score Update: 15:42 1H – Kentucky 7, Georgia State 5
11/29/2024 06:08:15 PMAfter a somewhat sloppy start, the Cats lead 7-5. Jaxson Robinson has four of the Cats’ seven points so far, with Lamont Butler scoring the other three, two off the first bucket of the game and one from the free-throw line. Amari Williams just picked up a foul, his first of the game. The Cats have turned it over twice.
It’s fine. They’re nervous because I’m here. I get it.
Hello from the Rupp Arena rafters
11/29/2024 05:57:08 PMGreetings from the new media section in the Rupp rafters. This is my first time in this building since Mark Pope’s introductory press conference and although the view is much different these days, that doesn’t mean it’s bad. We’ve got a packed house on a freezing Friday night for Georgia State. Let’s roll.
Tonight’s starting 5
11/29/2024 05:50:55 PMNo change to tonight’s starting lineup. Pope is rolling with the same 5 he has all season.
Pope officially rules out Garrison
11/29/2024 05:34:30 PM“We’ll hold BG out tonight,” Pope said on pregame radio with Tom Leach. “More as a precaution than anything else. He’s dealing with just a little bit of soreness. We just like to be as healthy as we can be before we put him on the floor again.”
An update on Brandon Garrison
11/29/2024 05:13:18 PMSophomore center Brandon Garrison was spotted in sweats during pregame warmups. Jack Pilgrim has the inside scoop on his status ahead of tonight’s tipoff, which you can find through the tweet below. Garrison is averaging 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, three assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 18.5 minutes per game this season on 48.6 percent shooting.
Hello, Live Bloggers!
11/29/2024 05:04:35 PMHappy day after Thanksgiving, Big Blue Nation! It’s the Cats vs. the Panthers tonight in Rupp Arena, the final game of a four-game homestead for Mark Pope’s squad. We’re under an hour away from tipoff with Kentucky a massive favorite to come out with a win. We’ll have a slightly different KSR crew inside Rupp tonight. I’ll be covering the game from afar while Tyler Thompson and Adam Stratton join the usual crew of Jack, Drew, Jacob, and Steven. While we wait to hear more from the rest of the gang, get familiar with Georgia State through Brandon Ramsey’s in-depth Scouting Report.
Special thanks to today’s LIVE BLOG sponsor, Ole Jim’s BBQ Sauce and Rub!
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