ATLANTA (Interstat) — Kentucky overcame a seven-point halftime deficit with a dominant second half to defeat Saint John’s 78-66 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at State Farm Arena. The Wildcats, who trailed 32-25 at the break, exploded for 53 points after halftime. Otega Oweh led Kentucky with 20 points. The Red Storm were held to 33.3% shooting from the floor. Bryce Hopkins and Zuby Ejiofor scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Saint John’s. Kentucky improved to 8-4. Saint John’s fell to 7-4.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering second-half reversal, the Kentucky Wildcats overcame a sluggish and sloppy start to storm past the Saint John’s Red Storm 78-66 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at State Farm Arena. The contest, played before an announced crowd of 1, unfolded as a tale of two starkly different halves. Saint John’s, leveraging its defensive pressure, controlled the opening period. The Red Storm forced 10 first-half turnovers by the Wildcats, converting them into 13 points, and built a 32-25 lead at intermission. Kentucky’s offense was anemic, shooting just 28% from the floor in the half and managing only four assists against nine turnovers. The second half, however, belonged entirely to Kentucky. The Wildcats erupted for 53 points, nearly doubling their first-half output, while shooting a blistering 58% from the field. The turnaround was ignited by a decisive 18-4 run early in the period, which transformed a seven-point deficit into a seven-point Kentucky lead. The Wildcats dominated the interior, outscoring Saint John’s 30-20 in the paint for the game and owning a 13-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, which led to 15 second-chance points. The most important part of the game was Kentucky’s dramatic shift in offensive efficiency and composure after halftime. After a first half riddled with turnovers and poor shot selection, the Wildcats settled down, took care of the ball, and aggressively attacked the basket. This was exemplified by their 13-2 advantage in fast-break points, many coming during the pivotal second-half surge. Saint John’s, which had relied on its defense to generate offense, found itself unable to keep pace as Kentucky’s scoring avalanche continued. Otega Oweh, a guard from Newark, New Jersey, led all scorers with 20 points for Kentucky, showcasing his ability to score at all three levels. He was complemented by guard Jaland Lowe of Missouri City, Texas, who provided a critical spark off the bench with 13 points, all in the second half, including a key 3-pointer late to help seal the game. Kentucky’s frontcourt also made a significant impact, with freshman Jayden Quaintance of Cleveland, Ohio, posting 10 points and eight rebounds, and fellow freshman Malachi Moreno of Georgetown, Kentucky, contributing eight points and nine rebounds. Saint John’s was led by a balanced scoring effort but struggled mightily with its shooting throughout. The Red Storm shot just 33% from the field and 26% from 3-point range. Bryce Hopkins of Oak Park, Illinois, and Zuby Ejiofor of Garland, Texas, each scored 13 points, while Joson Sanon of Fall River, Massachusetts, added 12. The Red Storm’s saving grace was its performance at the free-throw line, where it made 27 of 32 attempts. Defensively, Kentucky tightened its grip in the second half, recording seven blocks and six steals for the game. Saint John’s, despite 10 steals, could not sustain its disruptive first-half pressure as Kentucky solved the defensive riddle after the break. The loss drops Saint John’s to 7-4 on the season, while Kentucky improves to 8-4. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Saint John’s had been projected with a 76.5% probability to win. The total score of 144 points fell under the over/under line of 156.5. Saint John’s will look to rebound quickly, scheduled to play at Hardin-Simmons on Sunday. Kentucky’s next game is at home against Bellarmine on Tuesday.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — Two teams riding winning streaks will meet in a nonconference showcase Saturday when Saint John’s faces Kentucky in a men’s basketball clash at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Red Storm (7-3) have won three straight, including a 79-66 home victory over DePaul on Tuesday. Saint John’s is led by guard Joson Sanon, who is averaging 13.2 points over his last five games. He scored 15 points in 31 minutes against DePaul. Dylan Darling added a team-high 17 points in that win. Kentucky (7-4) snapped a two-game skid with a 72-60 win over Indiana on Dec. 13. Forward Mouhamed Dioubate was a key contributor off the bench, scoring 14 points in 22 minutes. The Wildcats will look to build momentum before opening Southeastern Conference play next month. This matchup pits Saint John’s efficient offense, which has scored 91 and 79 points in its last two outings, against a Kentucky defense that held Indiana to 60 points. The game is part of a multi-team event being held at the home of Georgia Tech football. Both teams have faced challenging early schedules. Saint John’s’ losses have come against Auburn, Iowa State and then-Alabama. Kentucky’s defeats include a 94-59 rout by then-Gonzaga and close losses to North Carolina and Louisville. The Wildcats hold a 14-5 all-time series advantage, but the programs have not met since 2015. Saturday’s contest offers both a resume-building opportunity before the heart of conference play. Saint John’s will turn around to play at Hardin-Simmons on Sunday. Kentucky’s next game is at home against Bellarmine on Dec. 23. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. EST Saturday.