Koby Brea scored 20 points, but No. 17 Kentucky lost at No. 4 Alabama 96-83 on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum.
For Brea, it was the fourth time this year he has scored at least 20 points.
Kentucky (18-9, 7-7 Southeastern Conference) got 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists from Amari Williams. It was the ninth time this season that Williams has recorded a double-double.
Andrew Carr also had 17 points for the Cats and Travis Perry had a career-high 12.
Alabama (22-5, 11-3) scored the first two points of the game before a Brea runner tied the game at 2-2. A Perry three made it 5-2. After a Crimson Tide bucket, Carr hit a three, giving the Cats an 8-4 advantage. Alabama scored again before Brea and Carr hit threes to make it 14-6. The Tide would answer with a three to cut the deficit to five.
Carr would drive to the basket for a crafty layup that gave UK a 16-9 advantage. A Collin Chandler layup and a Brandon Garrison dunk made it 20-9 Kentucky. However, Alabama scored the next seven points to get within four.
Another Brea three and two Carr free throws gave UK a 25-16 lead. After an Alabama bucket, Brea hit his third three of the game to make it 28-18. Oweh converted a tough chance at the rim to give the Cats a 30-18 advantage. However, Alabama scored the next nine points, getting within three.
A Garrison basket made it 32-27, but Alabama scored the next nine to close an 18-2 run that gave the Tide a 36-32 lead. A Perry layup, on a pass from Williams, cut the deficit to two, but the Tide scored the next six to lead 42-34.
A Williams jump hook got the Cats within six and two Williams free throws made it 42-38. The Tide scored five in a row but Williams scored just before the end of the half and Alabama led 47-40 at the half.
Alabama scored the first three points of the second half before a Carr dunk made it 50-42. The Tide hit three more free throws before a Perry layup cut the deficit to 53-44. Two Williams free throws and a Carr three got the Cats within four, 53-49.
After an Alabama three, Williams scored on a spin move in the lane, was fouled, and made the free throw to cut the ‘Bama lead to 56-52. After a Tide basket, Perry scored on a drive to the basket, was fouled, and made the free throw to make it 58-55. After an Alabama three, Brea hit a three of his own, cutting the Alabama lead to 61-58. The Tide would score again, making it 63-58.
Another Carr basket in the lane got the Cats within three but Alabama responded with a 7-2 run to lead 70-62. Williams hit two free throws and Brea hit a shot in the lane to make it 70-66 with 8:18 remaining.
The Tide responded with a 10-2 run to lead 80-68. Kentucky would continue to fight back, eventually getting within seven, 86-79, on a Chandler three, but Alabama scored the next eight to put the game away.
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday, visiting Norman to face Oklahoma. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
Next Game
Kentucky vs Troy (On time)
