Kentucky downs No. 22 St. John’s, Pitino, for first ranked win of the season

ATLANTA, Ga. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The Kentucky Wildcats defeated Rick Pitino and the St. John’s Red Storm 78–66 in the CBS Sports Classic. The matchup marked the first time Kentucky head coach Mark Pope faced his former coach, Rick Pitino.

The game also marked the Kentucky debut of Jayden Quaintance, who was returning from an ACL injury. Quaintance, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, scored 10 points, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, and blocked two shots in his season debut.

Kentucky struggled offensively in the first half, scoring just 25 points and knocking down only one three-pointer. Point guard Jaland Lowe reinjured his shoulder just seven seconds into the game, and the Wildcats committed 11 first-half turnovers. Despite the offensive woes, strong defense kept Kentucky within striking distance, trailing just 32–25 at halftime.

In the second half, Kentucky’s offense came alive. Lowe returned to the game and played a key role off the bench, finishing with 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists in just 15 minutes of action. His performance helped spark a dominant second half in which Kentucky outscored St. John’s 53–34 to secure the 78–66 victory.

Otega Oweh led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points on 6-of-17 shooting. He also added five rebounds and three steals in the win.

Kentucky also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Red Storm 39–28 for the game, including a significant advantage in the second half.

The Wildcats will return home to face Bellarmine at Rupp Arena on Tuesday, December 23, in their final game before the New Year. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be televised on SEC Network+.