Kentucky Wildcats Edge Texas Longhorns in Close Contest
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Rupp Arena
Kentucky Wildcats 85, Texas Longhorns 80, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won Texas Longhorns vs Kentucky Wildcats?
Kentucky Wildcats beat Texas Longhorns 85-80 at Rupp Arena on January 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Texas Longhorns vs Kentucky Wildcats?
Kentucky Wildcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -340 (about 77% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling matchup at Rupp Arena, the Kentucky Wildcats narrowly defeated the Texas Longhorns with a final score of 85-80. This victory marks a significant achievement for Kentucky, who improved their home record to 14-6 while Texas fell to 11-9 overall. The game showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, reflecting their recent performances leading up to this encounter.
Kentucky entered the game with a strong home record of 13-6 and had been performing well recently, boasting a record of 7-3 in their last ten games. They were on a three-game winning streak, averaging 80.0 points scored per game while allowing 75.4 points. Their most recent victories included a close win against the Tennessee Volunteers (80-78) and a narrow win over the LSU Tigers (75-74). The Wildcats' scoring prowess was evident, particularly in their home games, where they had a record of 5-2 in their last seven home contests.
On the other hand, Texas came into this game with an 11-8 record. Their recent form has been mixed, with a record of 5-5 over their last ten games and currently on a one-game losing streak. The Longhorns averaged 82.7 points scored per game but also allowed 76.4 points, indicating their games tended to be high-scoring affairs. Their last game resulted in a loss against the Texas A&M Aggies (70-74), but they had previously secured a solid win against the Vanderbilt Commodores (80-64).
In terms of previous meetings, this matchup was particularly noteworthy as it was a rematch from the previous season, where Kentucky had lost to Texas 78-82 on February 16, 2025. This added an extra layer of intensity to the game, with Kentucky looking to avenge that defeat on their home court.
Injury reports indicated that both teams were relatively healthy heading into this contest, which allowed for a full-strength showdown. This was crucial as both teams needed their key players to perform at their best in a tightly contested game.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Kentucky favored by 7.5 points, with a total set at 152.5 for the game. The odds reflected the expectation of a competitive matchup, given both teams' scoring capabilities and recent form.
As the game progressed, viewers were treated to a back-and-forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Key moments included late-game free throws by Denzel Aberdeen, who contributed significantly to Kentucky's score in the closing minutes. His ability to convert from the free-throw line helped secure the victory for the Wildcats, as they maintained a slim lead over the Longhorns in the final moments.
Overall, the matchup between Kentucky and Texas was a testament to the competitive nature of college basketball, with both teams showcasing their strengths and fighting for every point. The Wildcats' victory not only avenged their previous loss to the Longhorns but also reinforced their status as a formidable team in the NCAAB landscape.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UK -7.5 | 152.5 o -105 / u -115 | Texas Longhorns +270 · Kentucky Wildcats -340 |
Leaders
- PointsDenzel Aberdeen19Kentucky Wildcats
- AssistsMalachi Moreno6Kentucky Wildcats
- ReboundsCollin Chandler7Kentucky Wildcats
- PointsDailyn Swain29Texas Longhorns
- AssistsDailyn Swain3Texas Longhorns
- ReboundsMatas Vokietaitis11Texas Longhorns
Recent form
Kentucky Wildcats
Last 10: 7-3Streak W380 scored · 75.4 allowed per game5-2 at home
- 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
- W99-85vs Bellarmine KnightsDec 23
- W78-66vs St. John's Red StormDec 20
- W72-60vs Indiana HoosiersDec 14
- W103-67vs North Carolina Central EaglesDec 10
- L59-94vs Gonzaga BulldogsDec 6
Texas Longhorns
Last 10: 5-5Streak L182.7 scored · 76.4 allowed per game1-2 away
- L70-74vs Texas A&M AggiesJan 17
- W80-64vs Vanderbilt CommodoresJan 15
- W92-88at Alabama Crimson TideJan 11
- L71-85at Tennessee VolunteersJan 7
- L98-101vs Mississippi State BulldogsJan 3
- W94-71vs Maryland Eastern Shore HawksDec 23
- W95-53vs Le Moyne DolphinsDec 17
- L63-71at UConn HuskiesDec 13
- W95-69vs Southern JaguarsDec 9
- L69-88vs Virginia CavaliersDec 4
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 | Texas Longhorns | Kentucky Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-64 | 25-58 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 2-18 | 5-18 |
| Three-point % | 11 | 28 |
| Free throws | 18-20 | 30-35 |
| Free throw % | 90 | 86 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 23 |
| Assists | 9 | 12 |
| Steals | 6 | 8 |
| Blocks | 1 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 16 | 19 |
| Points in the paint | 48 | 32 |
| Fouls | 23 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 11 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 18 | 73 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half56-55Dailyn Swain makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half56-57Andrija Jelavic makes 10-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half56-58Otega Oweh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-59Otega Oweh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-60Malachi Moreno makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-61Malachi Moreno makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-61Matas Vokietaitis makes layup (Tramon Mark assists)
- 2nd Half58-63Collin Chandler makes 8-foot jumper (Malachi Moreno assists)
- 2nd Half60-63Dailyn Swain makes layup
- 2nd Half60-66Collin Chandler makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half60-67Collin Chandler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-68Collin Chandler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-69Collin Chandler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-70Collin Chandler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-70Dailyn Swain makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half63-70Dailyn Swain makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half63-71Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-71Dailyn Swain makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-74Collin Chandler makes 22-foot three point jumper (Malachi Moreno assists)
- 2nd Half65-76Collin Chandler makes 2-foot dunk (Denzel Aberdeen assists)
- 2nd Half66-76Chendall Weaver makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-76Chendall Weaver makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-77Mouhamed Dioubate makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-77Dailyn Swain makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half70-77Dailyn Swain makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half72-77Matas Vokietaitis makes layup (Tramon Mark assists)
- 2nd Half72-78Mouhamed Dioubate makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-79Mouhamed Dioubate makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-79Matas Vokietaitis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-79Matas Vokietaitis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-79Tramon Mark makes layup
- 2nd Half76-80Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-80Tramon Mark makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half78-81Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-82Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-83Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-83Jordan Pope makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-83Jordan Pope makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-84Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-85Denzel Aberdeen makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Kentucky Wildcats, below favours Texas Longhorns.
Venue
- Rupp ArenaLexington, KY
- Attendance19298
- OfficialsDoug Shows, Tony Chiazza, K.B. Burdett
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