Kentucky Wildcats Edge Tennessee Volunteers in Close Contest
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Rupp Arena
Kentucky Wildcats 74, Tennessee Volunteers 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Tennessee Volunteers vs Kentucky Wildcats?
Kentucky Wildcats beat Tennessee Volunteers 74-71 at Rupp Arena on February 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Tennessee Volunteers vs Kentucky Wildcats?
Kentucky Wildcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -115 (about 53% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 74-71 at Rupp Arena. This victory continues Kentucky's dominance over Tennessee, marking their fourth consecutive win against them in head-to-head matchups. The Wildcats have now won all three meetings this season, including a previous encounter on January 17, 2026, where they also triumphed 80-78.
Kentucky entered the game with a home record of 17-7 and a recent form of 7-3 over their last ten games, currently riding a two-game winning streak. They scored an average of 78.0 points while allowing 76.0 in that stretch. Their last five games saw them maintain an average of 78.2 points scored and 75.6 points allowed. The Wildcats' recent victories included a solid 94-78 win against the Oklahoma Sooners just days before this game.
On the other hand, the Tennessee Volunteers, with an away record of 16-7, also showcased strong form, winning seven of their last ten games and currently on a four-game winning streak. They averaged 82.3 points scored and 75.7 points allowed during this period. Their last outing was a convincing 84-66 win against the Ole Miss Rebels.
The matchup was anticipated not just for the teams' records but also for the competitive nature of their previous encounters. The Wildcats had outperformed the Volunteers in their last three meetings, and this game was expected to be a continuation of that trend. The betting market reflected this sentiment, with DraftKings listing Kentucky as 1.5-point favorites with a total set at 147.5.
Throughout the game, the conditions were typical for a mid-season college basketball matchup, with both teams battling for supremacy in a high-stakes environment. Fans witnessed a thrilling back-and-forth contest, with the lead changing multiple times in the second half. Key moments included a crucial three-point jumper by Collin Chandler that put Kentucky ahead late in the game.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability, but both teams were expected to field their strongest lineups given the importance of the game.
As the game progressed, the Wildcats' ability to execute in the clutch moments proved decisive. Denzel Aberdeen's free throws in the closing minutes helped secure the victory, as he made crucial shots that pushed Kentucky's lead to three points in the final moments.
Viewers should note the intensity of the rivalry as both teams fought hard for every point, highlighting the competitive nature of college basketball. The final score of 74-71 not only reflects a closely contested game but also underscores the significance of this matchup in the context of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UK -1.5 | 147.5 o -105 / u -115 | Tennessee Volunteers -105 · Kentucky Wildcats -115 |
Leaders
- PointsOtega Oweh21Kentucky Wildcats
- AssistsDenzel Aberdeen3Kentucky Wildcats
- ReboundsBrandon Garrison7Kentucky Wildcats
- PointsNate Ament29Tennessee Volunteers
- AssistsJa'Kobi Gillespie4Tennessee Volunteers
- ReboundsDeWayne Brown II12Tennessee Volunteers
Recent form
Kentucky Wildcats
Last 10: 7-3Streak W278 scored · 76 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W94-78vs Oklahoma SoonersFeb 5
- W85-77at Arkansas RazorbacksJan 31
- L55-80at Vanderbilt CommodoresJan 28
- W72-63vs Ole Miss RebelsJan 24
- W85-80vs Texas LonghornsJan 22
- W80-78at Tennessee VolunteersJan 17
- W75-74at LSU TigersJan 15
- W92-68vs Mississippi State BulldogsJan 11
- L68-73vs Missouri TigersJan 8
- L74-89at Alabama Crimson TideJan 3
Tennessee Volunteers
Last 10: 7-3Streak W482.3 scored · 75.7 allowed per game2-2 away
- W84-66vs Ole Miss RebelsFeb 4
- W77-69vs Auburn TigersFeb 1
- W86-85at Georgia BulldogsJan 29
- W79-73at Alabama Crimson TideJan 25
- L78-80vs Kentucky WildcatsJan 17
- W87-82vs Texas A&M AggiesJan 14
- L67-91at Florida GatorsJan 10
- W85-71vs Texas LonghornsJan 7
- L75-86at Arkansas RazorbacksJan 3
- W105-54vs South Carolina State BulldogsDec 31
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 27-8 | - | 16-2 |
| Arkansas | 28-9 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Alabama | 25-10 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Vanderbilt | 27-9 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Tennessee | 25-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Texas A&M | 22-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Georgia | 22-11 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Kentucky | 22-14 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Missouri | 20-13 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Texas | 21-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Auburn | 22-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma | 21-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Mississippi State | 13-19 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Ole Miss | 15-20 | 12 | 4-14 |
| South Carolina | 13-19 | 12 | 4-14 |
| LSU | 15-17 | 13 | 3-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Tennessee Volunteers | Kentucky Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 23-62 | 28-56 |
| Field goal % | 37 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 8-21 | 5-19 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 26 |
| Free throws | 17-25 | 13-22 |
| Free throw % | 68 | 59 |
| Rebounds | 46 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 19 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 27 | 23 |
| Assists | 17 | 16 |
| Steals | 8 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 24 | 44 |
| Fouls | 20 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 14 | 3 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 86 | 12 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half48-36Malachi Moreno makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-37Malachi Moreno makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-37J.P. Estrella makes 2-foot dunk (DeWayne Brown II assists)
- 2nd Half50-39Denzel Aberdeen makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half50-41Andrija Jelavic makes 2-foot dunk (Collin Chandler assists)
- 2nd Half51-41Bishop Boswell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-41Bishop Boswell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-41Nate Ament makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-44Collin Chandler makes 27-foot three point jumper (Andrija Jelavic assists)
- 2nd Half55-44Amari Evans makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-47Denzel Aberdeen makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half56-47Bishop Boswell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-47Bishop Boswell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-49Mouhamed Dioubate makes layup (Brandon Garrison assists)
- 2nd Half57-51Mouhamed Dioubate makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half57-52Jasper Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-53Jasper Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-55Otega Oweh makes 2-foot dunk (Malachi Moreno assists)
- 2nd Half59-55DeWayne Brown II makes layup (J.P. Estrella assists)
- 2nd Half59-57Jasper Johnson makes layup
- 2nd Half60-57Nate Ament makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-59Otega Oweh makes layup (Jasper Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half60-61Otega Oweh makes driving layup (Malachi Moreno assists)
- 2nd Half62-61Bishop Boswell makes 3-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-61Nate Ament makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-61Nate Ament makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half65-62Otega Oweh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-64Brandon Garrison makes layup
- 2nd Half66-64Nate Ament makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-64Nate Ament makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-66Malachi Moreno makes 10-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half67-67Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-68Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-68Nate Ament makes driving layup
- 2nd Half69-71Collin Chandler makes 27-foot three point jumper (Otega Oweh assists)
- 2nd Half69-72Malachi Moreno makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-72J.P. Estrella makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-72J.P. Estrella makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-73Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-74Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Kentucky Wildcats, below favours Tennessee Volunteers.
Venue
- Rupp ArenaLexington, KY
- Attendance20123
- OfficialsPat Adams, Rob Rorke, K.B. Burdett Jr.
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond