Otega Oweh’s clutch offense helps Kentucky hold off Missouri.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Otega Oweh’s 21 points and big plays on both ends helped Kentucky to a 78-72 victory over Missouri in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday.

Denzel Abedin (16 points, 7 assists) and Colin Chandler (15 points, 3 steals) also had big plays for the ninth-seeded Wildcats (21-12), who survived a 32-point, 7-rebound performance from Missouri’s Mark Mitchell.

Mitchell scored 23 second-half points as eighth-seeded Missouri (20-12) briefly overcame a 16-point deficit.

Kentucky will face top-seeded Florida on Friday in the first of four quarterfinals.

Missouri took the lead with 2:34 left in the second half when Mitchell got isolated and hit a short shot in the paint.

But Aberdeen hit two free throws with 2:06 left to put Kentucky ahead for good.

TO Barrett (13 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) missed a corner 3 after Kentucky double-teamed Mitchell and denied him a clean look. Oweh’s ensuing layup extended the lead to three points with 1:13 left.

The Tigers got the ball to Mitchell in the paint, where Oweh spun around and knocked the ball loose, forcing a turnover. Aberdeen hit a contested layup from the left side with 22.5 seconds left.

Kentucky took a 53-37 lead on three free throws from Chandler with 14:33 left, but a pair of foul shots by Barrett with 10:28 left gave the Tigers a 58-53 lead.

Kentucky led 38-29 at halftime after outscoring Missouri 26-14 in the paint.

Kentucky’s Kam Williams buried a long 3 against the zone and Oweh hit a short jumper following a steal for a 33-22 lead with 3:40 left in the second half. Both sides had double-digit leads for the first time.

The Tigers appear likely to receive an NCAA Tournament bid, barring a string of bid steals between now and Sunday.

But as a promising No. 11 seed, Missouri could qualify for the First Four in Dayton.

–Chris Lee (Field Level Media)