Mark Pope recaps Kentucky vs. Georgia, plus postgame notes

The Kentucky Wildcats took another tough loss on the road and now stand at 0-2 in true road games after falling to the Georgia Bulldogs, 82-69.

The Cats also struggled to score, managing only 69 points and seeing only three players in double figures after putting up 106 against a top-10 Florida team and having six players with 14 or more points. Kentucky also shot just 27% from 3-point range, making it hard to win in any venue for a team that relies so heavily on shooting from deep.

Georgia’s increased physicality added to Kentucky’s troubles, with foul trouble being a constant issue throughout the game for the Cats. They were outrebounded 43-34.

Despite being 3-0 against top-10 teams this season, Kentucky now has three unranked losses. They’ll have a chance to bounce back as they travel to No. 14 Mississippi State, aiming for their first road win of the season.

And here are the postgame notes via UK Athletics.

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is now 12-3, 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia is 13-2 overall, 1-1 in league play.
• Kentucky leads the series 132-29, including 44-20 in Athens.
• Mark Pope is 199-111 as head coach, including 12-3 at Kentucky.
• Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats stay on the road Saturday at Mississippi State. Game time is 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. in Starkville) and it will be televised on the SEC Network.

Team Notes

• Kentucky made 15 of 19 free throws (78.9 percent), the fourth straight game the Wildcats have made at least 75 percent at the foul line.

Player Notes

• Lamont Butler led the Wildcats with 20 points, his eighth double-figure game of the season and second game with at least 20.
• He also had a season-high four steals, his third straight game with at least three thefts.
• Playing a season-high 27 minutes, Brandon Garrison had a season-high 13 points and collected five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
• Otega Oweh had 12 points and has scored in double figures in every game this season. He also led UK in rebounds with seven, the first time this season he has paced the Wildcats in the boardwork.

In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starters were Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Otega Oweh, Andrew Carr and Amari Williams. UK has a 10-3 record with this lineup.
• Koby Brea and Travis Perry were the first substitutions at 16:18.
• Kentucky was ahead 23-19 but Georgia closed the half with a 28-11 run and took a 47-34 lead into the locker room. UK is 2-3 this season when trailing at halftime.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starters.
• The Wildcats chipped away, cutting the margin to 55-50, coaxing a Georgia timeout at 12:02.
• Kentucky got no closer as Georgia held steady for the win.