Everyone will remember Malachi Moreno’s buzzer-beater. The highlight will loop endlessly, the photo will live forever, and the moment will define Kentucky’s 75–74 win at LSU in the simplest way possible.
But that shot didn’t win the game on its own.
What truly swung the outcome Wednesday night in Baton Rouge was Kentucky’s transformation after halftime — led by Denzel Aberdeen’s steady takeover and a complete shift in how the Wildcats played together.
At the break, Kentucky looked cooked. The Wildcats trailed by 18 points, struggled to organize their offense, and couldn’t generate consistent energy on either end of the floor. LSU dictated pace, controlled momentum, and had Rupp Arena-level confidence in its home building. Kentucky, meanwhile, looked like a team still searching for itself after the season-ending loss of point guard Jaland Lowe.
Then the second half started — and everything changed.
Aberdeen, scoreless in the first half, emerged as the adult in the room. He attacked decisively, got Kentucky into its sets quicker, and punished LSU for every defensive mistake. Within minutes, the Wildcats were moving the ball with purpose, spacing the floor, and forcing the Tigers to react instead of dictate.
Aberdeen poured in 17 second-half points, shooting efficiently from everywhere on the floor. But the scoring was only part of it. His patience with the ball settled Kentucky down, allowing others to play freer — especially Otega Oweh, who finished with a game-high 21 points and embraced a leadership role of his own.
Kentucky’s offense finally looked like what Mark Pope has been preaching since day one: connected, unselfish, and confident.
The Wildcats chipped away possession by possession. There was no panic. No hero-ball. Just consistent pressure. Eight of Aberdeen’s points came before the first media timeout of the half, immediately signaling that Kentucky wasn’t going away quietly.
Defensively, the effort followed. LSU’s rhythm disappeared as Kentucky tightened rotations and forced tougher shots late in the clock. The Tigers, who had been comfortable all night, suddenly felt the weight of a shrinking lead.
By the time Moreno’s moment arrived, the comeback had already been earned.
Even the final play reflected the team-wide buy-in. Collin Chandler’s long inbound pass wasn’t perfect, but Moreno stayed poised, gathered himself, and delivered. That kind of composure doesn’t happen in isolation — it’s built over the previous 19 minutes of belief.
After the game, Mark Pope didn’t just praise the final shot. He highlighted leadership — specifically Aberdeen and Oweh — as the reason Kentucky survived.
And that’s the real story.
The buzzer-beater will dominate headlines, but what won the game was Kentucky’s refusal to fold, its rediscovered offensive flow, and a veteran stepping up when the season demanded it.
