Bellarmine Knights at Kentucky Wildcats
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Williams hits 8 3s, scores 26, Dioubate adds 20 points to help Kentucky beat Bellarmine 99-85
The 6-foot-8 Williams, a Tulane transfer, made 8 of 10 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Denzel Aberdeen scored 14 points for Kentucky (9-4) and Jasper Johnson had 11 points and seven assists. Otega Oweh added 10 point, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and two steals.
The Wildcats shot 59% (33 of 56) overall and made a season-high 16 3-pointers on 30 attempts (53%, also a season high).
Jack Karasinski led Bellarmine (5-7) with 24 points. Karasinski made 6 of 9 from the field, 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. Brian Waddell and reserve Michael Wilson Jr. scored 16 points apiece, Kenyon Goodin added 11 points and Donovan Hunter 10.
Johnson hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer that gave Kentucky the lead for good midway through the first half and made another 3 that made it 46-38 at halftime. Williams scored 15 second-half points, which included three 3s in a 65-second span that pushed the lead into double figures for good with 10:51 left in the game.
Dioubate and Bellarmine's Darrius Bolden were called for double technical fouls following a verbal exchange with about three minutes left.
Williams is the first Wildcat to make eight 3-pointers since Immanuel Quickley did it in a 69-60 victory over Texas A&M on Feb. 25, 2020.
Kentucky opens SEC play Jan. 3 at No. 14 Alabama.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 85 - 99 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 85 - 99 |
| 2nd 0:15 | Collin Chandler Defensive Rebound. | 85 - 99 |
| 2nd 0:18 | Jacob Wassler misses 23-foot three point step back jumpshot | 85 - 99 |
| 2nd 0:30 | Tommy Clark Defensive Rebound. | 85 - 99 |
Statistics
 BELL |
 UK |
|
|---|---|---|
| 26-50 | FG | 33-56 |
| 52 | Field Goal % | 59 |
| 7-19 | 3PT | 16-30 |
| 37 | Three Point % | 53 |
| 26-30 | FT | 17-24 |
| 87 | Free Throw % | 71 |
| 26 | Rebounds | 29 |
| 9 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 17 | Defensive Rebounds | 18 |
| 15 | Assists | 24 |
| 8 | Steals | 8 |
| 0 | Blocks | 5 |
| 12 | Turnovers | 10 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 12 | Total Turnovers | 10 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 18 | Points Off Turnovers | 19 |
| 9 | Fast Break Points | 19 |
| 38 | Points in Paint | 34 |
| 20 | Fouls | 23 |
| 4 | Largest Lead | 18 |
| 4 | Lead Changes | 4 |
| 6 | Percent Led | 90 |
Game Information
Location: Lexington, KY
Attendance: 19,706 | Capacity:
2025-26 ASUN Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay | 7-1 | - | 13-6 |
| Lipscomb | 7-1 | - | 14-7 |
| Queens University | 7-1 | - | 12-9 |
| Central Arkansas | 5-2 | 1.5 | 10-10 |
| West Georgia | 4-4 | 3 | 10-10 |
| Jacksonville | 3-5 | 4 | 8-13 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 3-5 | 4 | 7-14 |
| Stetson | 3-5 | 4 | 7-14 |
| North Florida | 3-5 | 4 | 5-16 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 2-6 | 5 | 8-13 |
| Bellarmine | 2-6 | 5 | 7-13 |
| North Alabama | 1-6 | 5.5 | 6-12 |
2025-26 Southeastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 6-1 | - | 16-4 |
| Arkansas | 6-2 | 0.5 | 16-5 |
| Florida | 5-2 | 1 | 14-6 |
| Kentucky | 5-2 | 1 | 14-6 |
| Vanderbilt | 4-3 | 2 | 17-3 |
| Georgia | 4-3 | 2 | 16-4 |
| Alabama | 4-3 | 2 | 14-6 |
| Auburn | 4-3 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Missouri | 4-4 | 2.5 | 14-7 |
| Tennessee | 3-3 | 2.5 | 13-6 |
| Texas | 3-4 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Ole Miss | 3-4 | 3 | 11-9 |
| South Carolina | 2-5 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Mississippi State | 2-5 | 4 | 10-10 |
| LSU | 1-6 | 5 | 13-7 |
| Oklahoma | 1-7 | 5.5 | 11-10 |