Kentucky
Otega Oweh's second-half performance vs. Vanderbilt gave Kentucky a chance to win
Kentucky’s 74-69 road loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday would have looked a lot worse had it not been for the efforts of junior guard Otega Oweh.
While playing far from a perfect game, Oweh did just about everything his team required of him in the second half. He was a different player from first half to second half. The man who has scored in double-figures every game so far this season went into the intermission with just four points and a turnover. Kentucky trailed by 14 points and looked overwhelmed by Vanderbilt’s defensive pressure.
The Wildcats were already without backup point guard Kerr Kriisa coming into this Nashville showdown. Starting forward Andrew Carr was ruled out two hours prior to tipoff. Starting point guard Lamont Butler is beginning to look like a shell of himself as his body continues to take a game-by-game beating. Oweh had no choice but to step up — if only to avoid a 20-point blowout loss.
“He was fighting,” Head coach Mark Pope said postgame. “We’re dealing with a bunch of issues tonight and so it kind of forced him to play with the ball in his hands a little bit and he was terrific doing it.”
Oweh scored 17 second-half points to finish his afternoon with 21, the fifth time this season he’s hit that exact number. He added seven rebounds after halftime to reach 12 for the game, his first double-double as a Wildcat and second as a college player. Oweh’s final stat line also included three assists and one steal in 33 minutes of action. He shot 8-14 from the field (0-3 3PT) and 5-7 from the free throw line.
During Kentucky’s second-half comeback, Oweh was the source of energy. He opened up the half with a steal that led to a Lamont Butler three-pointer. He followed that with a pair of free throws and an and-one soon after that. A pull-up jumper cut Vanderbilt’s lead down to just six a little over four minutes into the half. There was nothing he wasn’t doing for the ‘Cats.
His stellar play continued throughout the second half. A huge dunk down the lane on top of a Vanderbilt player’s head gave Kentucky a three-point lead with under eight minutes to go. Another jumper soon after once again increased UK’s lead. His layup with three minutes to play put the ‘Cats in front by one.
But those two points were Kentucky’s last of the game. Vanderbilt responded and never trailed the rest of the way. Oweh was hardly the only reason UK gave up the lead down the stretch, but his decision-making didn’t make a final comeback attempt any easier. He took a poor three-point attempt with two minutes to go that didn’t fall. His unforced turnover with less than 60 seconds left put the final nail in the coffin.
“I had a couple of plays I was careless with it,” Oweh admitted afterward.
Kentucky could easily lost this game by 20-plus points if not for Oweh’s production in the second-half. But at the same time, if he played that well all game, the final outcome probably favors the Wildcats.
Top headlines of the week, May 8 2026
Here are some stories you may have missed this week in central Ohio.
Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.
Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohio’s Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbie’s identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.
Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.
Kentucky
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.
The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.
“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)
One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.
He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.
The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.
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Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)
He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.
Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.
James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.
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Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)
Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.
The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.
In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.
Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace
First, the long jump.
Christian Educational Consortium’s Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the state’s leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.
Hartlage’s mark is followed by Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.
Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders
Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.
Triple Jump Competition Tightens
In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.
However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.
Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact
Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last season’s 3A champion at 39-5.25.
How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally
Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.
National Benchmarks Set the Bar
Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.
Coes’ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.
Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.
The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).
A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.
State Records Within Reach
With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).
Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.
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