Georgia snapped a rough stretch Tuesday night, topping Kentucky 86-78 in Lexington. The Bulldogs had dropped five of their previous six games, including blowout losses to Florida and Oklahoma by a combined 34 points. Coach Mike White, though, saw positive signs in his team’s offense heading into the matchup.

“Our execution with our continuities the last two games has been very good,” White said. “It doesn’t hurt when you add Jeremiah to the lineup, another talented scorer and playmaker who had missed two games with an injury.”

Wilkinson, Georgia’s leading scorer, bolstered an attack that clicked from the tip. White praised the shot selection, ball movement and decisions displayed even in the loss at Norman to Oklahoma. Against Kentucky, those elements carried over. The Bulldogs attacked the paint relentlessly and crashed the offensive glass.

Defensively, Georgia elevated its game. White called prior efforts inefficient but said his players brought intensity from the opening possession. They connected on switches, contested shooters and disrupted passing lanes. Kentucky drained some tough shots late, keeping it close, but Georgia’s physicality prevailed.

“We threw bodies around with some of our wall-ups, some of the turnovers that we caused, just overall physicality was a big factor,” White said. “We’re not the most physical team in the league, but to a certain extent, I thought we matched a lot of theirs.”

Both teams grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, a battle White highlighted. Georgia fought for position inside, refusing to yield easy looks. Kentucky coach Mark Pope and his players echoed White’s assessment, citing the Bulldogs’ aggression as key.

Wildcats guard Collin Chandler drained six 3-pointers but acknowledged Georgia’s edge. “They came in and really imposed their will early and they were very physical,” Chandler said. “I think credit to them. They did a good job.”

White spread praise across his roster. No single star dominated; eight or 10 players contributed effectively on both ends. The Bulldogs cut hard offensively, shared the ball and defended as a unit. That collective effort ended Georgia’s slide and handed Kentucky a home defeat.

The win provides momentum for Georgia in a demanding SEC schedule. White demanded competition at a higher level—rebounding tougher, defending sharper. His squad delivered, silencing doubters after the recent slump.