Kentucky didn’t just beat Indiana. The Wildcats flipped the script after halftime, turned up the pressure, and walked out of Rupp Arena with a 72–60 win that felt bigger than a single non-conference game.
A Rivalry Rekindled — With a Twist
For Indiana, this was supposed to be a chance to plant a flag in one of college basketball’s most intimidating arenas. The Hoosiers came in 8–3 and
owned the first half, leading 39–32 at the break behind balanced scoring from
Lamar Wilkerson and
Tucker DeVries, who finished with 15 points each.
But this rivalry chapter will be remembered for what happened after halftime — when
Mark Pope’s Kentucky finally showed the fight he’s been begging for.
Kentucky’s Second-Half Takeover
The story of the night was simple:
Indiana controlled the first half, Kentucky dominated the second.According to UK’s official recap, Indiana still led by eight, 45–37, early in the second half before the momentum flipped. A sequence featuring a
Justin Aberdeen three, a floater, and steady production from the bench cut the lead and ignited Rupp.
From there, Kentucky unleashed a
10–0 run that completely changed the feel of the game, with the Wildcats’ energy and body language suddenly surging as Indiana faded.
Key second-half themes:
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Defensive clampdown: Kentucky’s pressure and physicality ramped up, holding Indiana to just
21 second-half points after giving up 39 before the break.
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Rebounding edge: The Wildcats, criticized recently for “ineffective wedging” on the glass, started attacking the boards with purpose, a shift Pope had been demanding.
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Bench impact: Fresh legs and hustle plays — especially from
Mouhamed Dioubate — turned the tide.
The SEC’s game report summed it up bluntly: a
“dominant second half” earned Kentucky the win.
Mouhamed Dioubate: The Relentless Spark
If there was a single turning point in this game, it wore No. 23 in blue.
Mouhamed Dioubate came off the bench and delivered a
monster double-double:
14 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 steals, stuffing every column of the box score.
UK’s recap and league coverage both highlighted how Dioubate’s
energy, physicality and nose for the ball set the tone. He didn’t just clean the glass — he
tilted the effort battle, repeatedly extending possessions and disrupting Indiana’s rhythm.
Mark Pope has been vocal about wanting more effort, physicality, and toughness from this group. Against Indiana, he finally got it.
Other Wildcats Who Stepped Up
Dioubate wasn’t alone in Kentucky’s surge.
According to UK’s game story and local coverage:
-
Otega Oweh hit key shots and free throws, finishing with
10 points and 2 steals, helping fuel the comeback run.
-
Justin Aberdeen added
9 points, including a crucial three and a floater during the rally.
-
Kam Williams and
Amari Garrison chipped in with timely buckets and offensive rebounds, emblematic of the team’s upgraded toughness inside.
Pope’s rotation leaned heavily on guys who were
willing to battle, especially on the offensive glass and in 50–50 situations.
What Went Wrong for Indiana
On the Indiana side, this one will sting.
The Hoosiers
outplayed Kentucky for 20 minutes and still left with a double-digit loss.
Key issues:
-
Offensive stall: After a 39-point first half, Indiana’s attack sputtered, scoring just 21 after the break as Kentucky’s defense tightened.
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Turnovers and pressure: Increased ball pressure and physicality from Kentucky disrupted Indiana’s flow and led to live-ball mistakes.
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Rebounding battle: The Hoosiers struggled to match Kentucky’s second-half intensity on the glass, giving up extra chances that fueled runs.
Even with Wilkerson and DeVries each scoring 15, Indiana never found a counterpunch once Kentucky seized control.
Why This Win Matters for Kentucky
This wasn’t just another non-conference W.
Over the past weeks, Pope has
criticized his team’s response to adversity and their work on the boards. Against Indiana, they checked both boxes:
- They
responded to a halftime deficit instead of folding.
- They
won with defense, rebounding, and effort, not just shot-making.
Louisville-based columnist Eric Crawford framed it as a much-needed sign of life for Kentucky — a game where the Wildcats finally looked like a team willing to “dig in, not go away,” echoing Pope’s postgame comments.
For a program trying to re-establish a new identity under a new coach, doing it
against a historic rival on national TV makes the performance even more significant.
What’s Next for This Blue-Blood Battle?
The Indiana–Kentucky rivalry has gone through long pauses, neutral-court experiments, and plenty of drama, but this matchup showed why fans on both sides keep begging for more.
This edition offered:
- A classic
momentum swing: one half for Indiana, one half for Kentucky.
- A star turn from a
high-energy role player in Dioubate.
- A coaching subplot, with Pope’s message about effort finally landing in a big-game setting.
If both programs continue trending upward, future meetings could carry not just emotional weight, but serious NCAA Tournament implications.
For now, though, this one belongs to Kentucky — and to a second half where the Wildcats finally looked like the team their coach has been trying to summon.
Sources
1. IU basketball: Indiana 60 Kentucky 72 — Three keys, highlights, final stats
2. CRAWFORD | Signs of life: Kentucky clamps down on Indiana for much-needed 72-60 win
3. Dioubate, Lowe Lead Second-Half Comeback as Cats Top Hoosiers
4. Mark Pope wanted more effort from UK basketball. He got it vs Indiana
5. Dominant second half earns Kentucky big win over Indiana
6. 2025-2026 - Kentucky Basketball - Kentucky vs Indiana (Game 11)
