Kentucky's Second-Half Surge Secures Thrilling 78-66 Win Over No. 22 St. John's

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In a highly anticipated matchup, Kentucky's Wildcats put on a dominating display in the second half, outscoring No. 22 St. John's 45-25 en route to a convincing 78-66 victory. The win marked a significant turnaround for the Wildcats, who had struggled this season and were previously knocked out of the AP Top 25. Otega Oweh led the charge with 20 points, while Jayden Quaintance made a statement in his Kentucky debut, contributing 10 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Quaintance, a highly-touted transfer from Arizona State, had been sidelined for nine months due to a knee injury but looked fully recovered and was instrumental in the Wildcats' second-half surge. The turning point came when Kentucky turned up the defensive pressure, holding St. John's without a field goal for nearly nine minutes. The Red Storm's best chance to regain momentum came when Oziyah Sellers finally scored with 7:10 remaining, but by then, the Wildcats had built a double-digit lead that they would not relinquish. The win marked a significant victory for coach Mark Pope, who faced off against his mentor, Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, for the first time since Pitino's final season at Louisville in 2016. Pitino, who coached the Wildcats to a national championship in 1996, had a tough day, as St. John's shot just 33% from the field. Bryce Hopkins led the Red Storm with 13 points. The win marks a crucial milestone for Kentucky, who will look to build on this momentum when they face Bellarmine at home on Tuesday. Meanwhile, St. John's will host Harvard on Tuesday, looking to bounce back from this tough loss.