It never should have been that close. Northern Arizona came in at 0-3, having no business even with a chance to win this game. Every time Kentucky Basketball looked like they were going to pull away with the lead, Northern Arizona had an answer. Daggers, at that.
Kentucky did win 78-77, but my goodness. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Alex Wilkins drilled a three-pointer with just over two seconds remaining to, perhaps, more than win the game. The Wildcats got out-rebounded 32-20 and 8-1
on the offensive glass.
Not to mention, they were out-rebounded 24-19 on the defensive glass. They allowed 13 three-pointers and only attempted six free throws. Plus, Northern Arizona made five of its last seven shots.
Somehow, though, the Cats won. It sure doesn’t feel like it.
Highlights
Box Score
MVP: Alex Wilkins
Period. He made the game-winning three-pointer for Kentucky with just 2.1 seconds remaining. Burn the tape and move on to Grambling State.
First Half
It wasn’t a great start for Kentucky. Northern Arizona knocked down some shots early to take a 9-8 lead at the first media timeout. The Lumberjacks led 7-2 before Ousmane N’Diaye and Zoom Diallo hit back-to-back three-pointers for the Wildcats.
Kentucky took its first lead at 11-9 out of the timeout, but they were still struggling to get a consistent rhythm shooting the ball early. Milan Momcilovic missed his first two shots of the game, both three-pointers, in the first 8:03, as the Lumberjacks took a 14-13 lead into the under-12 media timeout.
N’Diaye and Diallo were the catalysts in the first half, pacing Kentucky to a 24-20 lead at the under-eight media timeout. The lead grew from there for the Cats, with Alex Wilkins getting in on the action with a four-point spurt. It included a steal and thunderous dunk that put the Cats up 33-23 with less than four minutes remaining in the first half.
The Wildcats closed the first half strong, with Momcilovic making two three-pointers and Malachi Moreno establishing his presence inside for eight points. Kentucky led by eight, 45-37, at halftime. N’Diaye led the Cats with 11 points, but one area where the Cats struggled was defending the three-point line. Chris Komin made four three-pointers for Northern Arizona, finishing the first half with 16 points.
Second Half
The second half started the same way the first half did, with Northern Arizona hanging around way too much. It was just a one-point game, 49-48, with 15:02 remaining in the game. Kentucky was in front, but fans in Rupp Arena were booing. Northern Arizona would take a 51-49 lead on another three-pointer to stretch their run to 11-0. Kentucky went over five minutes at the start of the second half without scoring, missing four straight shots.
Alex Wilkins made a three-pointer to snap Kentucky’s offensive funk and give the Wildcats a 52-51 lead, but Ryan Abelman responded with a three for Northern Arizona to retake the lead 54-52. It was 58-54 Northern Arizona with 10:50 left in the game. While the Cats cut the lead to one score on a Momcilovic three-pointer, they couldn’t pull even or ahead for a few minutes. Northern Arizona took a 60-57 lead with 7:41 remaining.
Led by Wilkins and Moreno, the Cats retook the lead at 63-62, but there were still five-plus minutes left to play. Wilkins picked up his fourth foul with 4:55 remaining, joining Diallo with four fouls. The Cats took a 66-64 lead on a Justin McBride three-pointer, but back-to-back three-pointers by Northern Arizona gave them a 70-68 lead at the under-four media timeout. There were 2:54 remaining.
Trailing by two, Kentucky had nobody underneath the basket to get the rebound off a missed three-pointer. Lucas Toukam soared high for the putback dunk to stretch Northern Arizona’s lead to 72-68.
Mason Williams answered with a bucket to make it 72-70 before Chris Komin answered with a bucket of his own to make it 74-70. A Momcilovic and-one cut it to 74-73. Somehow Northern Arizona made another three on their next possession, this time a three from Cade Bennett to make it 77-73 with less than 20 seconds remaining.
Williams answered with a long two to make it 77-75 with 13.9 seconds remaining. Max Marjele missed a free throw for the Lumberjacks on their next possession, but Moreno lost the ball point blank going for the rebound. It was crushing. There were only 9.9 seconds remaining.
Then, another miss from the free-throw line as Komin missed, and Alex Wilkins answered at the other end with a cold-blooded three-pointer to give the Cats the lead 78-77 with just 2.2 seconds remaining. It proved to be the game-winner. Kentucky escaped.
Kentucky vs. Northern Arizona Twitter Reactions
Big Blue Nation was furious during this game. Here are the best reactions from Big Blue Nation.
