With the Kentucky Wildcats missing star big man Jayden Quaintance due to knee swelling, freshman Malachi Moreno knew his moment had arrived.
He answered in a big way Saturday night inside Rupp Arena in a must-win game vs. the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
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Moreno, a Georgetown, Kentucky native just 20 minutes from Lexington, turned in the best performance of his young career in Kentucky’s 92–68 win over Mississippi State. The freshman finished with 17 points on an efficient 8/10 shooting, added eight rebounds, dished out a career-high six assists, and tied his career best with four steals in 28 minutes. He also had the second best +/- with a +19 while on the floor.
What made Moreno’s night even more special was that he joined the likes of Rajon Rondo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — two players who’ve been to multiple NBA All-Star Games — to become just the third Wildcat to have 17 points, eight boards, six assists, and four steals in a game since the 1996-97 season.
Although 17 points was not technically his career high — he scored 18 against Valparaiso in just the second game of his college career — this was easily his most complete performance. Moreno impacted the game in every way possible, from scoring inside to passing out of double teams and creating turnovers on defense.
With Quaintance still trying to get fully healthy, Kentucky needed stability and production in the paint. Moreno provided exactly that, giving the Wildcats energy early and helping them build control of the game, especially in the second half.
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The four steals tied his career high, matching the total he had earlier this season against Indiana, a game in which he scored only three points. Against Mississippi State, he paired that defensive activity with elite efficiency on offense.
Through 16 games as a college freshman, Moreno continues to grow quickly. Saturday night showed what Kentucky hopes he can become, which is a reliable presence in the frontcourt who can score, pass, rebound, and defend at a high level when the team needs him most.
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