Just In: The Cats beat Western Kentucky 87–68 to win the game.

The Kentucky men’s basketball team beat Western Kentucky 87–68 on Tuesday night, after getting off to a slow start. The Wildcats won by 19 points.

The Hilltoppers are now 3-3 on the season, while No. 8 Kentucky is now 6-0.

Before playing on Tuesday, UK had won its first four home games by an average of 37 points. A win by 19 points is still a win, but the numbers don’t do it justice. One example is that the Wildcats only made eight three-pointers all night, which is only 28% from deep. Also, Kentucky scored less than 97 points for only the second time this season, the first time being against No. 7 Duke.

Western Kentucky also put the Cats through a tougher test. There were a total of 49 fouls called, and both sides tried 71 free throws. Kentucky made 29 of 42 free throws, which is 69%, while WKU made 22 of 29.

Andrew Carr and Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 18 points each. Carr also grabbed 10 boards for a double-double.

The Hilltoppers were ahead for only 1:39 of the game and never by more than three points. The Cats felt like the game was too close for comfort, especially in the first half. UK had a double-digit lead for most of the first half, but WKU never felt out of reach. In fact, the home team went three minutes without scoring in the middle of the half.

At the break, Kentucky’s lead had grown to 12 points, 45–33. Before halftime, the Cats made five of their last seven field goals, making 45 percent of their shots overall and 29 percent (4-14) from deep. They both scored nine points, and Jaxson Robinson made more than one three-pointer (2-4).

Sluggish once more.

A pair of three-pointers by Koby Brea, a few tough points by Otega Oweh, and a string of made free throws by the team as a whole helped the Wildcats keep and grow their lead.

The Hilltoppers were also getting into a lot of foul trouble. Their starting centre, Babacar Faye, fouled out with more than seven minutes left in the game.

Even though WKU kept fighting until the end, they could never close the gap.

Three Wildcats scored in double figures for Kentucky at the end of the night: Oweh, Carr, and Butler.

After Thanksgiving, the Wildcats will play Georgia State at Rupp Arena. Starting time is Friday at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.

In the SEC-ACC Challenge this year, Kentucky will play its first real road game of the season next Tuesday, when it goes to Clemson, South Carolina, to play the Tigers.