Nov 14, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Eastern Illinois Panthers forward Kooper Jacobi (40) drives to the basket around Kentucky Wildcats forward Mouhamed Dioubate (23) during the first half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images Mouhamed Dioubate scored 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting and collected 11 rebounds to help No. 9 Kentucky roll to a 99-53 victory over Eastern Illinois on Friday night at Lexington, Ky.
Denzel Aberdeen had 13 points and Otega Oweh added 12 for the Wildcats (3-1), who rebounded from a 96-88 loss to No. 12 Louisville on Tuesday.
Andrija Jelavic and Malachi Moreno had 11 points apiece for Kentucky, which shot a sizzling 60.9% from the field and was 9 of 25 from 3-point range.
Terry McMorris registered 18 points, three blocked shots and two steals for the Panthers (1-3), who never led. Andrew Austin made three treys while adding 13 points for Eastern Illinois.
The Wildcats held a commanding 49-17 rebounding advantage, Kentucky also had a 24-6 edge on fastbreak points.
Dioubate scored 10 points in each half. He also rejected two shots and had two steals.
Eastern Illinois made just 32.7% of its shots and hit 6 of 18 from behind the arc.
Brandon Garrison scored six points during an early 13-0 run that saw the Wildcats take a 15-2 lead less than five minutes into the contest.
Kentucky ripped off 13 consecutive points again later in the half. Aberdeen capped that run with a steal and dunk to make it 32-13 with 8:52 left.
The lead reached 30 on Trent Noah’s layup with 42 seconds left before the Wildcats led 47-19 entering the break.
Oweh scored back-to-back baskets to open the second half to push the Kentucky lead back over 30.
A basket by McMorris pulled Eastern Illinois within 53-23 with 17:13 remaining before the Wildcats ran off 12 straight points. Jelavic’s steal and layup ended that run to make it a 42-point margin with 13:43 remaining.
The Panthers scored 10 of the next 13 points with Kooper Jacobi’s jumper cutting their deficit to 68-33 with 9:54 remaining.
Aberdeen’s steal and dunk pushed Kentucky’s lead to 76-36 with 7:15 left.
The advantage reached 47 for the first time on Jelavic’s dunk with 2:02 remaining.
–Field Level Media
