For the first time in history, North Carolina lost a game in regulation in which it scored at least 100 points.

Kentucky's 103-100 victory against the Tar Heels in the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday was the best and most riveting game we've seen so far this season. I hope this isn't the case, but I kind of feel like the game's flow, competitiveness and overall entertainment value won't be topped until the NCAA Tournament.

Let me be wrong and let us be so lucky.

Malik Monk is the story from the game, the lead story in sports let alone college basketball. His 47-point showing set Kentucky records and is now the high-water mark for single-game scoring by any player in college hoops this season.

Monk's night was the second-most points ever scored against UNC. Duke's Dick Groat (who is better known as a shortstop who helped the 1960 Pirates and 1964 Cardinals win World Series) still holds the record, dating all the way back to 1952 when he dropped 48 on the Tar Heels.

The 47 was the most points any player scored against a team coached by Roy Williams.

In the process and the aftermath, Monk's winning shot and the biggest moment of his life have overshadowed individual performances from the game that deserve some analysis and praise. Let me show you how good this game was by highlighting how many players showed up and showed out. It wasn't all about Monk. This game came very close to being about UNC overcoming Monk and getting an incredible showing out of Justin Jackson.

Justin Jackson

34 POINTS | 5 REBOUNDS | 3 ASSISTS | 10-OF-17 SHOOTING

Jackson is one of four players to score a career high in this game. He also had a bonkers second half and nearly pushed UNC over the top. Jackson's 34 beat out his previous record of 27. He really went off, going 4 for 7 from beyond the arc. He would have flirted with 40 if he had been closer to his 80-percent foul shot average, but instead he was 10 for 15 from the stripe.

Until Monk's 3 gave Kentucky its ultimate lead, this was going to be the basket that gave Carolina the edge.

Jackson helped pace UNC to 1.14 points per possession, which is actually better than Kentucky's 1.10 mark, but only barely. Jackson's now averaging 17.1 points and has cracked the 20-point barrier in five of UNC's 12 games.

North Carolina went more than 11 months -- and 37 games -- without a player cracking the 30-point barrier. Jackson did it, and in the process showed the 50 or so NBA scouts in the building a lot. Kentucky's loaded with lottery picks, so for Jackson to show up the way he did will help his draft stock. His profile took a hit in recent years, but this will give it a jolt.

De'Aaron Fox

24 POINTS | 10 ASSISTS | 4 REBOUNDS | 2 STEALS

The last time a team put up more than 100 on Carolina was back in 2009, when Texas did it. Monk was so much of this, but Fox had a career-high 24 points to go along with yet another double-double, as he had 10 assists and only two turnovers.

Fox leads UK in double-doubles. He's the Wildcats' most valuable player, and he has been their best freshman this season from wire to wire. Monk will now enter that debate, but if you told Calipari he had to pick Fox or Monk for the rest of the season and couldn't use the other guy, he would take Fox, who you cannot check one-on-one.

Joel Berry

23 POINTS | 7 ASSISTS | 5 REBOUNDS | 9-OF-15 SHOOTING

Berry had nine field goals, matching a career high, and to do this vs. the speed of Fox after coming off an injury was super impressive. He looked sharp, much sharper than I think anyone really expected him to. Talk about getting up for a big game. It wasn't even known for sure if he would play as late as Friday night. Then he goes out and plays strong against a team of freaks like Kentucky.

Unfortunately for Berry, the video he was involved in was Monk freezing him on the break. This is quite a move.

The amazing stat to me -- and this speaks to how great Monk's performance was, because it's putting things like this on the back burner -- North Carolina has played only one game in its history in which both teams scored at least 100 points, the game did not go to overtime, and North Carolina lost.

That game happened on Saturday.

Carolina has shot at least 50 percent in 184 games under Roy Williams. It has lost only four times when shooting that well.

One of those four times happened on Saturday.

UNC fans are frustrated by Roy Williams not calling a timeout at the end of the game, and because of that, Isaiah Hicks' shot wasn't the optimal outcome. I get that, but on the whole, UNC played pretty well and got a great game out of Berry, which was house money.

Almost no one is going to beat Kentucky when Malik Monk hits the 40 marker. And almost no one -- until Saturday, literally no one -- was beating UNC if it hit triple digits. Now we know a bit more about the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, and it's undeniable both groups will be able to count on their stars on their way to really high seeds come March.

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Justin Jackson had a career night, and UNC shouldn't slip in the polls. USATSI