LEXINGTON — Staring the longest home losing streak in nearly a century square in the face, Ugonna Onyenso responded the way he did so often Tuesday night.

He rejected the notion.

Kentucky’s 7-foot sophomore center, Onyenso blocked 10 shots to help the team end a three-game losing skid at Rupp Arena, easing past Ole Miss, 75-63.

"I'm not surprised that I did it," Onyenso said. "But, at the same time, I'm happy that I'm helping the team with what I know how to do best."

The 10 blocks set the Rupp Arena record for a UK player and tied the venue’s single-game mark; Hall of Famer David Robinson had 10 for Navy on Jan. 25, 1987. It also was the second most by any Wildcat ever, trailing only Nerlens Noel, who had 12 blocks against — coincidentally — Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, in 2013.

Prior to Tuesday's tipoff, Onyenso had a premonition: He told the coaching staff he was going to block eight shots.

"Then I had seven in the first half," he said with a laugh. "It’s amazing."

Tuesday night’s performance helped Onyenso achieve a goal he’d stated publicly, on multiple occasions, since the season began.

"I fulfilled the promise I made to my coaches and to other people," he said. "I told (them) I was going to get 10 blocks (in one game) this season and I did it. ... It's all thanks to my teammates (and) how we connected defensively today. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do it."

In addition to his double-digit block tally, Onyenso had eight points (making all three of his field-goal attempts and 2 of 4 free throws) and three rebounds for the Wildcats (17-7, 7-4 SEC), who won at home for the first time since a 105-96 triumph over Georgia on Jan. 20.

Kentucky coach John Calipari lamented Onyenso's two misfires at the free-throw line, which prevented him from recording a double-double. Conversely, Calipari said Onyenso's teammates could have done more to help him pad his point total.

"We're throwing him really hard passes for him to catch," Calipari said. "Like (sophomore guard) Adou (Thiero) threw a lob and just came up through him. You can't do that to him. When he's doing all that he's doing defensively? Don't do that to him. Don't give him the ball in bad areas."

Anywhere close to the basket was a "bad area" for the Rebels (18-6, 5-6) and their offense on this night, as they dropped their third straight game — and fifth in their past eight after a 15-1 start this season.

"We did not execute our game plan tonight," Ole Miss coach Chris Beard said. "We understood the talent at the rim. We understood the collapsing defense. ... We had some good inside-out possessions — but just not enough of them."

Beard refused to say he instructed his team to stop continually challenging Onyenso. But he didn't not say that, either.

"(We want) to try to play with some intelligence, some basketball IQ," he said. "And we just didn't have it consistently tonight."

Onyenso couldn't believe how often Ole Miss kept trying to score over him.

The definition of insanity.

"I said one time, 'If you think you're gonna get a layup on me? Go ahead. Do your thing,'" he said with a smile. "Well, they kept coming at me. I'm like, 'It's a block party for me. I'm hosting a party. Come on in.' ... I'm happy they helped me break a record in Rupp."

Onyenso's memorable effort helped the Wildcats avoid their first four-game home schneid since the 1926-27 club — which holds the dubious distinction of owning the worst single-season win percentage (.188; 3-13) in program history.

Back on the right side of the ledger at Rupp, Kentucky now turns its attention to a road date with Auburn on Saturday evening. UK has lost three straight matchups at Neville Arena. And Auburn enters Wednesday’s home tilt versus South Carolina on a 15-game win streak (dating back to last season) at Neville, which includes a 12-0 mark in 2023-24.

"We've got a big one coming up Saturday, so we've still got to stay locked in," Onyenso said. "If we do what we did today — or even more — I think we stand a chance of winning that game. It all comes down to defense."

And perhaps it also will hinge upon whether Onyenso can continue swatting away shots with regularity. That's the plan, anyway.

"Break another one," said Onyenso, pondering his next individual goal, which involves more rewriting of record books. "Maybe 10 or more blocks again?"

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: John Calipari's team snaps Rupp Arena losing skid