Kentucky basketball guard Jaxson Robinson talks to the media after scoring 17 points in the Wildcats' 78-73 win over the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. UK improved to 15-5,

Kentucky got off to a very good start in this game, jumping out to an early lead and stunning the Tennessee crowd. However, the momentum didn't last long for the Wildcats as Tennessee quickly climbed back into the game and took a 33-30 lead at the half.

Complete statistics from Tuesday night’s Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.

For Kentucky, the game before The Game was a tough one on paper — a Tuesday night road contest against Rick Barnes' Tennessee Vols, who were ranked No. 1 in the country just a few weeks ago and listed as 10.

Kentucky's Ansley Almonor and Koby Brea, forced into the starting lineup because of key injuries, helped lead the Cats past host Tennessee on Tuesday.

Tennessee basketball's vaunted 3-point defense collapsed against Kentucky's 3-point attack on Tuesday at Food City Center in a near-replay from last March, while its 3-point shooting couldn't match the Wildcats.