Watson gets 17, including clutch late baskets, Gonzaga hands No. 17 Kentucky 3rd straight home loss
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Gonzaga felt the energy and history of Rupp Arena, then crafted a milestone that No. 17 Kentucky didn’t want.
Anton Watson scored 17 points, including a go-ahead three-point play with 3:49 remaining before adding two key layups in the final 91 seconds, Ben Gregg and Nolan Hickman sank key late free throws and Gonzaga survived a second-half rally to beat the Wildcats 89-85 on Saturday.
The Wildcats (16-7) have now lost three straight at Rupp Arena for the first time since it opened in 1976. Kentucky hadn’t lost three in a row at home since the 1966-67 season when it played at Memorial Coliseum.
“When you walk into this building and it's been packed like it has been for three games, we just normally come out on fire and we haven't,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.
Meanwhile, Gonzaga left its first trip to Lexington with a lot to savor.
The Bulldogs (18-6) outperformed Kentucky in most every phase to lead 42-32 at halftime before the Wildcats stormed back ahead to force a back-and-forth contest. Reed Sheppard's three-point play with 4:07 left tied the game at 75, but Watson provided the go-ahead layup and ensuing free throw to put Gonzaga ahead for good, 78-75.
“When you have a skilled 4 (power forward) like Anton, the defensive schemes change," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said of Watson, who made 6 of 13 from the field.
"We finally made plays down the stretch at the end. We made shots and finally made some free throws.”
Watson followed Ryan Nembhard's two free throws and Graham Ike's layup with a key tip-in with 1:31 left for an 84-80 edge and another basket 36 seconds later for another four-point cushion that Kentucky couldn't erase. Gregg stole a lob pass intended for Adou Thiero (15 points, three blocks) and made one of two free throws with 5 seconds left. Hickman made two with a second left to seal a big win.
Sheppard had 21 points and Antonio Reeves 17 for Kentucky.
Ike scored a team-high 23 points before fouling out with 43 seconds left, Hickman had 17 and Braden Huff 12 as Gonzaga edged Kentucky 47% to 46% shooting. The Bulldogs did most of their damage near the basket, outscoring the Wildcats 50-40 in the paint and beating them 43-31 in rebounding, including 18 offensive boards.
Gonzaga was almost perfect from the free-throw line after halftime, making 18 of 19 attempts and 21 of 24 overall.
“This win was definitely a step in the right direction," Ike said. ”We closed the game out like we were supposed to, and it's just a great feeling."
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Kentucky figures to drop a few spots in the rankings and could possibly fall out altogether.
BIG PICTURE
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs did everything they needed to in controlling the first half before being outplayed early in the second. They didn't wilt under the intense noise at Rupp, just regrouped in the clutch to win their seventh in eight games - in one of the most difficult road environments, yet.
“Great atmosphere, man,” Hickman said. “I mean, that’s what college hoops is about. Just coming in and doing what we do. You know it’s different at arenas, it’s different atmospheres, but this is right up there with The Kennel, you know what I’m saying. It was amazing. I loved it. Crowds like that, it was cool and a great experience.”
Kentucky: Right now, the Wildcats' home arena isn't providing any advantage as three consecutive opponents have hung at least 89 points in victories. They had nowhere to go but up after a horrid first half and quickly found their game, helped by Thiero's play on both ends. Defending better and making shots obviously helped, but they couldn't hold the edge they had.
UP NEXT
Gonzaga visits Loyola-Marymount on Thursday night.
Kentucky hosts Mississippi on Tuesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Graham Ike vs. Ugonna Onyenso (Wildcats gains possession) | |||
19:41 | +2 | Justin Edwards makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
19:25 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot | 2-2 | |
19:17 | Ben Gregg blocks Justin Edwards's two point layup | |||
19:15 | Nolan Hickman defensive rebound | |||
19:12 | Nolan Hickman turnover (lost ball) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
19:06 | Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
18:52 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Anton Watson assists) | 4-2 | |
18:29 | Antonio Reeves misses two point layup | |||
18:27 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
18:14 | +3 | Ben Gregg makes three point jump shot (Graham Ike assists) | 7-2 | |
17:55 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point dunk (Reed Sheppard assists) | 7-4 | |
17:42 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Graham Ike's two point layup | |||
17:38 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
17:33 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Graham Ike's two point layup | |||
17:31 | Ben Gregg offensive rebound | |||
17:26 | +2 | Ben Gregg makes two point layup | 9-4 | |
17:08 | Justin Edwards misses two point jump shot | |||
17:06 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
16:54 | Nolan Hickman misses two point layup | |||
16:52 | Nolan Hickman offensive rebound | |||
16:49 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point layup | 11-4 | |
16:47 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
16:34 | Adou Thiero misses three point jump shot | |||
16:32 | Nolan Hickman defensive rebound | |||
16:19 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
16:17 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
16:03 | Adou Thiero misses two point layup | |||
16:01 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
15:56 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point dunk | 11-6 | |
15:41 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point layup | 13-6 | |
15:36 | TV timeout | |||
15:22 | Anton Watson shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | |||
15:22 | D.J. Wagner misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
15:22 | +1 | D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-7 | |
15:16 | Aaron Bradshaw personal foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
15:10 | Aaron Bradshaw shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
15:10 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-7 | |
15:10 | Anton Watson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
15:10 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
14:54 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
14:52 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
14:50 | +2 | Adou Thiero makes two point dunk | 14-9 | |
14:37 | Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup | |||
14:35 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
14:24 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
14:22 | Zvonimir Ivisic offensive rebound | |||
14:20 | Zvonimir Ivisic misses two point layup | |||
14:19 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
14:09 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point hook shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 16-9 | |
13:55 | Ben Gregg shooting foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul) | |||
13:55 | +1 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-10 | |
13:55 | +1 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-11 | |
13:38 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup | 18-11 | |
13:25 | Graham Ike shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | |||
13:25 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-12 | |
13:25 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-13 | |
13:09 | Ben Gregg turnover (lost ball) (D.J. Wagner steals) | |||
13:04 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
13:02 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
12:56 | Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot | |||
12:54 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
12:41 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup | 18-15 | |
12:25 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot | 21-15 | |
11:58 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
11:56 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
11:42 | Braden Huff misses two point layup | |||
11:40 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
11:40 | TV timeout | |||
11:24 | Anton Watson misses two point layup | |||
11:22 | Braden Huff offensive rebound | |||
11:16 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
11:14 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
11:07 | Antonio Reeves offensive rebound | |||
10:51 | Nolan Hickman blocks Reed Sheppard's three point jump shot | |||
10:51 | Reed Sheppard offensive rebound | |||
10:51 | Nolan Hickman personal foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul) | |||
10:45 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point layup (Reed Sheppard assists) | 21-17 | |
10:12 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:10 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
9:53 | Adou Thiero misses two point layup | |||
9:51 | Dusty Stromer defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | Anton Watson misses two point layup | |||
9:38 | Ugonna Onyenso defensive rebound | |||
9:21 | Antonio Reeves misses two point layup | |||
9:19 | Dusty Stromer defensive rebound | |||
9:10 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point layup | 23-17 | |
8:53 | Reed Sheppard misses two point layup | |||
8:51 | Anton Watson defensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Graham Ike misses two point layup | |||
8:30 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
8:18 | Antonio Reeves misses two point layup | |||
8:16 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
8:02 | Jordan Burks personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
8:00 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
7:58 | Ryan Nembhard offensive rebound | |||
7:50 | +2 | Ben Gregg makes two point dunk (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 25-17 | |
7:39 | +3 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 25-20 | |
7:22 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
7:20 | Luka Krajnovic offensive rebound | |||
7:13 | Jordan Burks personal foul (Graham Ike draws the foul) | |||
7:13 | TV timeout | |||
6:53 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
6:51 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
6:36 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
6:34 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
6:23 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup | 27-20 | |
6:04 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 27-23 | |
5:44 | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Anton Watson's two point layup | |||
5:42 | Jordan Burks defensive rebound | |||
5:41 | Luka Krajnovic shooting foul (Jordan Burks draws the foul) | |||
5:41 | +1 | Jordan Burks makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-24 | |
5:41 | +1 | Jordan Burks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-25 | |
5:20 | Anton Watson misses two point layup | |||
5:18 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
5:14 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup | 29-25 | |
4:55 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 29-27 | |
4:44 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
4:42 | Justin Edwards defensive rebound | |||
4:36 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
4:34 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
4:12 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
4:10 | Anton Watson offensive rebound | |||
4:02 | Ugonna Onyenso shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul) | |||
4:02 | Ben Gregg misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:02 | +1 | Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-27 | |
3:45 | Ugonna Onyenso turnover (bad pass) | |||
3:44 | TV timeout | |||
3:24 | +3 | Ben Gregg makes three point jump shot (Anton Watson assists) | 33-27 | |
3:11 | Anton Watson blocks Antonio Reeves's two point layup | |||
3:09 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
2:54 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
2:52 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
2:45 | Zvonimir Ivisic turnover (bad pass) (Braden Huff steals) | |||
2:39 | +2 | Braden Huff makes two point dunk | 35-27 | |
2:17 | Ben Gregg shooting foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul) | |||
2:17 | +1 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-28 | |
2:17 | +1 | Zvonimir Ivisic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-29 | |
2:04 | Braden Huff misses three point jump shot | |||
2:02 | Dusty Stromer offensive rebound | |||
1:45 | Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Rob Dillingham steals) | |||
1:38 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
1:36 | Dusty Stromer defensive rebound | |||
1:29 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup | 37-29 | |
1:17 | Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
1:13 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup | 39-29 | |
1:13 | D.J. Wagner shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
1:13 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-29 | |
1:01 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
0:59 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
0:43 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Anton Watson assists) | 42-29 | |
0:24 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Adou Thiero assists) | 42-32 | |
0:05 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
0:01 | Ryan Nembhard turnover (lost ball) | |||
0:00 | End of period |