Dec. 14, 2024 — Kentucky 93, Louisville 85; Butler 10-for-10 and second-half bench scuffle

On December 14, 2024, the University of Kentucky hosted the University of Louisville in a nationally covered in-state meeting that ended with Kentucky defeating Louisville 93–85 [9]. Kentucky guard Lamont Butler produced a perfect-efficiency shooting night, going 10-for-10 and finishing with 33 points, the performance singled out in game reports as a dominant offensive display [9]. The game narrative included a second-half bench-area scuffle near the Louisville bench following physical play; later reports also recorded a halftime incident in which a Louisville player gestured toward Kentucky fans, prompting commentary from coaches and media [9]. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope called the contest emotionally intense after the game, saying, 'That was probably the most fun part of the game. You have two organizations with an insane amount of passion about winning and feel all the joy and intensity and stress of this rivalry,' underscoring the charged atmosphere and the competitive character of the meeting [9]. Box score details record Kentucky's scoring runs that sealed the win and Louisville's attempts to rally late that fell short, and play-by-play logs document the timing of the second-half altercation and the key sequences in the final minutes [9].

The Dec. 14, 2024 game exemplifies the rivalry's modern mix of elite individual performance, physical on-court moments and fan intensity. Butler's perfect shooting night became a standout statistical line in recent series history, and the bench-area scuffle reinforced the recurring theme of heated in-game interactions that feed media coverage and fan lore around Kentucky–Louisville games [9].

In the immediate aftermath, coaches addressed the scuffle and halftime gesture in postgame comments, and the game's incidents were highlighted in local and national recaps; Kentucky's victory and Butler's 10-for-10 night were featured in season narratives for the Wildcats, while Louisville reviewed game conduct and bench-area protocols [9]. The contest added a recent memorable chapter to the rivalry and was referenced in subsequent previews as an example of how quickly these meetings can produce dramatic individual and team moments.