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Grady's 25 spark No. 4 Kentucky's rally past No. 25 Alabama

AP
Feb 19, 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Knowing his team would have to do more with less meant Kellan Grady needed to take his offense up a notch, at the very least.

That urgency resulted in a career day for the Kentucky guard, with his perimeter shooting providing a big spark for the No. 4 Wildcats.

Grady made seven 3s for a season-high 25 points, Oscar Tshiebwe added 21 points with 14 rebounds and Kentucky rallied twice to top No. 25 Alabama 90-81 on Saturday.

Short-handed because of injuries to starting guards TyTy Washington Jr. and Sahvir Wheeler, the Wildcats (22-5, 11-3 Southeastern Conference) trailed 46-34 with 3 1/2 minutes remaining before halftime before closing with 13 straight points for their first lead.

Grady's 3-pointer provided the go-ahead points that drew a thunderous roar before 20,374 in Rupp Arena.

The Crimson Tide (17-10, 7-7) erased a 54-48 deficit early in the second with eight points in a row to go up by two before Kentucky responded with a 20-2 surge over 5:47 to seize control at 74-58.

Grady's trio of 3s in that surge were critical, not to mention another deep ball later that maintained Kentucky's edge.

''I tried not to think about my opportunity to get 20,'' said Grady, who made 7 of 9 from long range and 9 of 16 overall. ''Naturally, this was a chance to get more opportunities. I know what I am. My goal was to get ball across the court and get the five of us to play.''

Consecutive 3s by Jaden Shackelford and Keon Ellis, who had a career-high 28 points, sparked a rebound that eventually got the Crimson Tide within 80-73 with 4:53 left. Grady just sank another 3 and Davion Mintz added a jumper for a double-digit cushion.

Keion Brooks Jr. leaped high for a huge putback dunk with 57 seconds left to finish with 18 points and seal the outcome as Kentucky regrouped from Tuesday night's 76-63 loss at No. 16 Tennessee.

And every contribution mattered in a game the Wildcats sorely needed to stay within sight of first-place Auburn, which lost 63-62 to Florida.

Tshiebwe was 9 of 13 from the field as the Wildcats shot 53% to seize a game of runs. Brooks had eight rebounds, while Jacob Toppin added 13 points and six boards. The Wildcats scored 14 points off turnovers, in addition to controlling other phases including rebounding (39-32), paint points (36-24) and second-chance points (22-15).

Kentucky's key statistic: All five starters played at least 35 minutes, including Grady (39:07).

''I didn't know what to expect,'' said Kentucky coach John Calipari, who showed his team a video with famed Alabama football coach Nick Saban discussing the next-man-up philosophy.

''I shut down practice and we had 36 hours to figure out who is going to play, how am I going to use timeouts. ... The whole locker room happy was happy. Sahvir and TyTy thanked the team.''

Shackelford had 18 points and Noah Gurley 12 for the Crimson Tide, who had won their past three. They seemed in control for the first 16 minutes before letting the lead slip away. Alabama recovered for a stretch after halftime to lead again before Kentucky snatched it away for good.

''We kept telling them through the hot start, our defense wasn't going to be good enough to win the game,'' coach Nate Oats said. ''That's what ended up happening.''

FIRING AWAY

Kentucky made 9 of 14 from behind the 3-point arc. Alabama was 14 of 40 to finish 35%, a jump from its 30% average. The Crimson Tide were just 5 of 18 (28%) after the break. Ellis was 7 of 11 from 3 and 10 of 16 overall.

BIG PICTURE

Alabama jumped on the depleted Wildcats with red-hot shooting from deep before going cold late in the first half to fall behind. The Crimson Tide briefly found their stroke to lead in the second and attempt a rally, but their reliance on the long ball ultimately cost them a chance for a big win.

Kentucky: Missing Washington and Wheeler put the Wildcats at a disadvantage on both ends of the floor. Grady kept them in it before he got hot in the second half, and others chipped in a way few could have imagined.

UP NEXT

Alabama visits Vanderbilt on Tuesday night.

Kentucky hosts LSU on Wednesday night.

---

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/College-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
ALA
Crimson Tide
46
UK
Wildcats
47

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Charles Bediako vs. Oscar Tshiebwe (Jaden Shackelford gains possession)
19:48		Jahvon Quinerly misses two point layup
19:46		Keon Ellis offensive rebound
19:29		Jahvon Quinerly misses two point layup
19:27		Charles Bediako offensive rebound
19:23	+3	Jaden Shackelford makes three point jump shot (Charles Bediako assists)	3-0
18:59	+2	Keion Brooks Jr. makes two point jump shot (Oscar Tshiebwe assists)	3-2
18:42	+3	Keon Ellis makes three point jump shot (Jahvon Quinerly assists)	6-2
18:18		Oscar Tshiebwe misses two point driving layup
18:16		Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound
18:11		Davion Mintz misses two point pullup jump shot
18:09		Charles Bediako defensive rebound
17:51		Jahvon Quinerly misses three point jump shot
17:49		Charles Bediako offensive rebound
17:45	+2	Charles Bediako makes two point putback layup	8-2
17:37	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point jump shot (Kellan Grady assists)	8-4
17:20	+2	Keon Ellis makes two point driving dunk	10-4
17:03	+2	Keion Brooks Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Jacob Toppin assists)	10-6
16:50	+3	Juwan Gary makes three point jump shot (Jahvon Quinerly assists)	13-6
16:36	+3	Kellan Grady makes three point jump shot (Jacob Toppin assists)	13-9
16:23	+2	Jahvon Quinerly makes two point finger roll layup	15-9
15:58		Davion Mintz misses three point jump shot
15:56		Jaden Shackelford defensive rebound
15:48	+2	Charles Bediako makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaden Shackelford assists)	17-9
15:32		Charles Bediako personal foul (Oscar Tshiebwe draws the foul)
15:31		TV timeout
15:21	+2	Keion Brooks Jr. makes two point driving hook shot	17-11
14:52		Darius Miles misses three point jump shot
14:50		Jacob Toppin defensive rebound
14:39		JD Davison personal foul (Davion Mintz draws the foul)
14:23	+2	Kellan Grady makes two point finger roll layup	17-13
14:00	+3	Keon Ellis makes three point jump shot	20-13
13:48	+2	Jacob Toppin makes two point finger roll layup	20-15
13:20		JD Davison misses two point driving layup
13:18		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
13:10		Kellan Grady misses two point pullup jump shot
13:08		Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound
12:59		Jacob Toppin misses two point jump shot
12:57		Keion Brooks Jr. offensive rebound
12:51		Keion Brooks Jr. misses two point putback layup
12:49		Noah Gurley defensive rebound
12:45	+3	Jaden Shackelford makes three point jump shot	23-15
12:39		Wildcats 30 second timeout
12:21		Keion Brooks Jr. misses two point jump shot
12:18		Bryce Hopkins offensive rebound
12:17		Kellan Grady misses three point jump shot
12:15		JD Davison defensive rebound
11:58		JD Davison turnover (bad pass) (Davion Mintz steals)
11:53	+2	Davion Mintz makes two point layup	23-17
11:44	+3	Noah Gurley makes three point jump shot (Jaden Shackelford assists)	26-17
11:17		Davion Mintz misses two point driving layup
11:15		Daimion Collins offensive rebound
11:15		Noah Gurley shooting foul (Daimion Collins draws the foul)
11:16		TV timeout
11:16	+1	Daimion Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-18
11:16	+1	Daimion Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-19
11:01	+3	Keon Ellis makes three point jump shot (Jahvon Quinerly assists)	29-19
10:47		Juwan Gary blocks Bryce Hopkins's two point layup
10:45		JD Davison defensive rebound
10:34		JD Davison misses three point jump shot
10:32		Bryce Hopkins defensive rebound
10:23		James Rojas shooting foul (Daimion Collins draws the foul)
10:22	+1	Daimion Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-20
10:22	+1	Daimion Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-21
10:10		Keion Brooks Jr. shooting foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul)
10:10		Juwan Gary misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:10		Juwan Gary misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:10		Jacob Toppin defensive rebound
9:59		James Rojas shooting foul (Keion Brooks Jr. draws the foul)
9:59		Keion Brooks Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:59	+1	Keion Brooks Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-22
9:39	+3	Keon Ellis makes three point pullup jump shot	32-22
9:21		Charles Bediako shooting foul (Oscar Tshiebwe draws the foul)
9:21	+1	Oscar Tshiebwe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-23
9:21	+1	Oscar Tshiebwe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-24
9:02	+3	Keon Ellis makes three point jump shot (Darius Miles assists)	35-24
8:40	+2	Jacob Toppin makes two point floating jump shot	35-26
8:27		Noah Gurley misses three point jump shot
8:25		Kellan Grady defensive rebound
8:13		Keion Brooks Jr. misses two point jump shot
8:11		Keon Ellis defensive rebound
8:01		Jaden Shackelford misses three point jump shot
7:59		Keon Ellis offensive rebound
7:58		Oscar Tshiebwe personal foul (Keon Ellis draws the foul)
7:58		TV timeout
7:54		Keon Ellis misses three point jump shot
7:52		Kellan Grady defensive rebound
7:36	+2	Jacob Toppin makes two point driving dunk	35-28
7:18		Jahvon Quinerly misses three point jump shot
7:16		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
6:53		Davion Mintz misses two point floating jump shot
6:51		Darius Miles defensive rebound
6:46		Keion Brooks Jr. blocks Jaden Shackelford's two point driving layup
6:44		Crimson Tide offensive rebound
6:29	+2	Noah Gurley makes two point turnaround jump shot	37-28
6:21		Kellan Grady misses two point driving layup
6:19		Jaden Shackelford defensive rebound
6:07	+2	JD Davison makes two point driving layup	39-28
5:54		Keion Brooks Jr. misses two point jump shot
5:52		Jahvon Quinerly defensive rebound
5:34	+2	Noah Gurley makes two point driving layup	41-28
5:33		Wildcats 30 second timeout
5:08	+3	Kellan Grady makes three point jump shot (Oscar Tshiebwe assists)	41-31
4:45		Official timeout
4:45		Darius Miles technical foul
4:45		Darius Miles turnover
4:45		Davion Mintz misses technical free throw 1 of 2
4:45	+1	Davion Mintz makes technical free throw 2 of 2	41-32
4:41		Jacob Toppin shooting foul (Jaden Shackelford draws the foul)
4:42	+1	Jaden Shackelford makes regular free throw 1 of 3	42-32
4:42	+1	Jaden Shackelford makes regular free throw 2 of 3	43-32
4:42	+1	Jaden Shackelford makes regular free throw 3 of 3	44-32
4:27		Lance Ware turnover (back court violation)
4:11		Jahvon Quinerly misses three point jump shot
4:09		JD Davison offensive rebound
4:03		Jaden Shackelford misses three point jump shot
4:01		JD Davison offensive rebound
4:00		Darius Miles misses two point tip shot
3:58		Davion Mintz defensive rebound
3:50	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point driving layup	44-34
3:50		Noah Gurley shooting foul (Oscar Tshiebwe draws the foul)
3:50		TV timeout
3:50		Oscar Tshiebwe misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:50		JD Davison defensive rebound
3:27	+2	Jahvon Quinerly makes two point finger roll layup	46-34
3:10		Jacob Toppin misses two point jump shot
3:08		Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound
3:04	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point tip shot	46-36
2:51		JD Davison misses three point step back jump shot
2:49		Kellan Grady defensive rebound
2:42		Official timeout
2:35		Oscar Tshiebwe misses two point jump shot
2:33		Jump ball. Keion Brooks Jr. vs. Keon Ellis (Wildcats gains possession)
2:33		Keion Brooks Jr. offensive rebound
2:23	+2	Kellan Grady makes two point pullup jump shot	46-38
2:04		Jahvon Quinerly misses two point layup
2:02		Charles Bediako offensive rebound
2:00		Jaden Shackelford misses three point jump shot
1:58		Jacob Toppin defensive rebound
1:47	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point driving layup	46-40
1:32		JD Davison turnover (bad pass) (Davion Mintz steals)
1:29		Jahvon Quinerly shooting foul (Davion Mintz draws the foul)
1:29	+1	Davion Mintz makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-41
1:29	+1	Davion Mintz makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-42
1:18		James Rojas misses three point jump shot
1:16		Keion Brooks Jr. defensive rebound
1:15		Juwan Gary personal foul (Keion Brooks Jr. draws the foul)
1:15	+1	Keion Brooks Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-43
1:15	+1	Keion Brooks Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-44
0:51		Oscar Tshiebwe blocks Jaden Shackelford's two point driving layup
0:49		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
0:44	+3	Kellan Grady makes three point fadeaway jump shot (Jacob Toppin assists)	46-47
0:41		Crimson Tide 30 second timeout
0:32		Jaden Shackelford misses three point jump shot
0:30		Keion Brooks Jr. defensive rebound
0:04		Keion Brooks Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Darius Miles steals)
0:01		Darius Miles turnover (bad pass) (Keion Brooks Jr. steals)
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
ALA
Crimson Tide
35
UK
Wildcats
43

Time		Play	Score
19:42		Jahvon Quinerly turnover (bad pass) (Oscar Tshiebwe steals)
19:20	+2	Keion Brooks Jr. makes two point jump shot (Davion Mintz assists)	46-49
18:57	+2	Jahvon Quinerly makes two point layup	48-49
18:45		Charles Bediako blocks Oscar Tshiebwe's two point jump shot
18:43		Jaden Shackelford defensive rebound
18:23		Keon Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Keion Brooks Jr. steals)
18:06		Jacob Toppin misses two point jump shot
18:04		Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound
18:03	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point putback layup	48-51
17:55		Keion Brooks Jr. blocks Juwan Gary's two point layup
17:53		Jump ball. Juwan Gary vs. Keion Brooks Jr. (Crimson Tide gains possession)
17:53		Keion Brooks Jr. defensive rebound
17:35		Jahvon Quinerly personal foul (Davion Mintz draws the foul)
17:16	+3	Jacob Toppin makes three point jump shot (Oscar Tshiebwe assists)	48-54
16:57	+2	JD Davison makes two point driving layup	50-54
16:47		Keion Brooks Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Keon Ellis steals)
16:39		Keon Ellis misses two point layup
16:37		Juwan Gary offensive rebound
16:33	+2	Keon Ellis makes two point layup	52-54
16:33		Jacob Toppin shooting foul (Keon Ellis draws the foul)
16:33	+1	Keon Ellis makes regular free throw 1 of 1	53-54
16:18		Oscar Tshiebwe turnover (lost ball) (Keon Ellis steals)
16:08	+3	Jaden Shackelford makes three point jump shot (JD Davison assists)	56-54
15:53	+3	Kellan Grady makes three point jump shot	56-57
15:40		Juwan Gary misses three point jump shot
15:38		Juwan Gary offensive rebound
15:34		Juwan Gary turnover (lost ball) (Davion Mintz steals)
15:28	+2	Keion Brooks Jr. makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kellan Grady assists)	56-59
15:17		JD Davison misses two point jump shot
15:17		Wildcats defensive rebound
15:17		TV timeout
14:49	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point jump shot (Kellan Grady assists)	56-61
14:30	+2	Noah Gurley makes two point layup (Keon Ellis assists)	58-61
14:12		Jaden Shackelford personal foul (Kellan Grady draws the foul)
13:56	+3	Kellan Grady makes three point step back jump shot	58-64
13:37		Darius Miles misses three point jump shot
13:35		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
13:14		Noah Gurley blocks Kellan Grady's two point jump shot
13:12		Jacob Toppin offensive rebound
13:02		Jacob Toppin misses three point jump shot
13:00		Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound
12:57	+3	Kellan Grady makes three point jump shot	58-67
12:44		Noah Gurley misses three point jump shot
12:42		Jacob Toppin defensive rebound
12:37		Official timeout
12:18		Davion Mintz misses three point jump shot
12:16		Jacob Toppin offensive rebound
12:15		Darius Miles shooting foul (Jacob Toppin draws the foul)
12:14	+1	Jacob Toppin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-68
12:14	+1	Jacob Toppin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-69
11:59		Darius Miles misses three point jump shot
11:57		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
11:29	+2	Jacob Toppin makes two point jump shot (Keion Brooks Jr. assists)	58-71
11:17		Jahvon Quinerly misses three point jump shot
11:14		Wildcats defensive rebound
11:15		TV timeout
11:00		Jusaun Holt blocks Oscar Tshiebwe's two point layup
10:58		Wildcats offensive rebound
10:46	+3	Keion Brooks Jr. makes three point jump shot (Davion Mintz assists)	58-74
10:09		Keon Ellis misses three point jump shot
10:07		Darius Miles offensive rebound
9:45		James Rojas misses three point jump shot
9:43		Jusaun Holt offensive rebound
9:39		Jaden Shackelford misses three point jump shot
9:37		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
9:15		Oscar Tshiebwe turnover (lost ball) (James Rojas steals)
9:06	+3	Jaden Shackelford makes three point jump shot (Darius Miles assists)	61-74
8:54		Wildcats 30 second timeout
8:54		TV timeout
8:41		Kellan Grady misses two point layup
8:39		Daimion Collins offensive rebound
8:34	+2	Daimion Collins makes two point putback dunk	61-76
8:22		Charles Bediako turnover (bad pass)
8:03		Daimion Collins misses two point jump shot
8:01		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
7:47	+3	Keon Ellis makes three point jump shot (Jaden Shackelford assists)	64-76
7:20		Charles Bediako blocks Davion Mintz's two point jump shot
7:18		Jaden Shackelford defensive rebound
6:56		Keon Ellis misses two point driving layup
6:54		Charles Bediako offensive rebound
6:53		TV timeout
6:48		JD Davison misses two point driving layup
6:46		Keon Ellis offensive rebound
6:44	+2	Keon Ellis makes two point jump shot	66-76
6:25	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point hook shot (Keion Brooks Jr. assists)	66-78
6:07	+3	Keon Ellis makes three point jump shot (JD Davison assists)	69-78
5:41	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point jump shot	69-80
5:30	+2	Charles Bediako makes two point layup (JD Davison assists)	71-80
4:59		Keion Brooks Jr. misses two point jump shot
4:57		JD Davison defensive rebound
4:53		Kellan Grady shooting foul (JD Davison draws the foul)
4:53	+1	JD Davison makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-80
4:53	+1	JD Davison makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-80
4:44		Kellan Grady turnover (lost ball) (Keon Ellis steals)
4:42		Keon Ellis turnover (lost ball) (Kellan Grady steals)
4:24	+3	Kellan Grady makes three point jump shot	73-83
4:00		Noah Gurley misses three point jump shot
3:58		Jaden Shackelford offensive rebound
3:49		Jaden Shackelford misses two point putback layup
3:47		Keion Brooks Jr. defensive rebound
3:26	+2	Davion Mintz makes two point jump shot	73-85
3:04		Jaden Shackelford misses three point jump shot
3:02		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
2:35		Kellan Grady turnover (lost ball) (Keon Ellis steals)
2:34		Kellan Grady personal foul (Keon Ellis draws the foul)
2:34		TV timeout
2:21	+2	Noah Gurley makes two point dunk (JD Davison assists)	75-85
2:21		Keion Brooks Jr. shooting foul (Noah Gurley draws the foul)
2:21	+1	Noah Gurley makes regular free throw 1 of 1	76-85
2:08		Noah Gurley personal foul (Oscar Tshiebwe draws the foul)
2:01		Noah Gurley shooting foul (Oscar Tshiebwe draws the foul)
2:01	+1	Oscar Tshiebwe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	76-86
2:01		Oscar Tshiebwe misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:01		Keion Brooks Jr. offensive rebound
1:39		Kellan Grady misses two point layup
1:37		Oscar Tshiebwe offensive rebound
1:34	+2	Oscar Tshiebwe makes two point layup	76-88
1:24	+2	Darius Miles makes two point dunk	78-88
1:03		Kellan Grady misses three point jump shot
1:01		Keion Brooks Jr. offensive rebound
0:59	+2	Keion Brooks Jr. makes two point putback dunk	78-90
0:46		Jaden Shackelford misses three point jump shot
0:44		JD Davison offensive rebound
0:43	+3	Jaden Shackelford makes three point jump shot (JD Davison assists)	81-90
0:43		Crimson Tide 60 second timeout
0:37		Davion Mintz misses two point jump shot
0:35		Keon Ellis defensive rebound
0:22		Keon Ellis misses three point jump shot
0:20		Jusaun Holt offensive rebound
0:27		Keon Ellis misses three point jump shot
0:25		Oscar Tshiebwe defensive rebound
0:19		Keon Ellis personal foul (Jacob Toppin draws the foul)
0:00		End of period

Keon Ellis personal foul (Jacob Toppin draws the foul)