Florida Completes Season Sweep of Kentucky in 84-77 Victory

Kentucky basketball suffered an 84-77 loss to the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026, failing to secure a bye in the upcoming SEC Tournament. Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with a game-high 28 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a strong performance from Florida.

First Half Struggles

Florida started the game strong, opening with an 11-0 run. Kentucky responded with a 9-0 run of their own, but the Gators continued to build their lead. A subsequent 13-0 run by Florida extended their advantage to 33-19. Otega Oweh scored 17 of Kentucky’s 32 first-half points, outscoring the rest of his teammates by two. Florida led 49-32 at halftime, shooting 64.3% from the field compared to Kentucky’s 37.9%.

Second-Half Comeback Falls Short

Kentucky attempted a comeback in the second half, narrowing the deficit to as few as five points late in the game. However, Florida consistently answered Kentucky’s scoring runs. Despite efforts from Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen (15 points), and Mo Dioubate (10 points), the Wildcats couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

Key Performances

Otega Oweh’s 28 points and five rebounds highlighted Kentucky’s performance. For Florida, Thomas Haugh led the way with 17 points in the first half, contributing to the Gators’ overall dominance.

SEC Tournament Outlook

With the loss, Kentucky finishes the regular season with a 19-12 record and a 10-8 record in the SEC. They will not receive a bye in the SEC Tournament and will begin play on Wednesday in Nashville. The date, time, and opponent for Kentucky’s tournament opener are yet to be determined. Florida, with a 25-6 record and a 16-2 SEC record, completed the regular season on an 11-game win streak.

Game Notes

• Florida never trailed in the game, mirroring their previous 92-83 victory over Kentucky on February 14 in Gainesville.
• Kentucky coach Mark Pope attributed some of the team’s struggles to poor decision-making when fatigued.