NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – Kentucky once again allowed a team to hit double digit three pointers and the final one handed the Cats their 2nd loss of the season, 84-83.
UK coaches have mentioned the team plays better when P.J. Washington is on his game and he started fast. Washington powered in a lay-up, then hit a three before another bucket to score seven of UK’s first 9 points.
The game would grind to a halt as both teams went cold from the field at one point. Tied at 11, UK missed 14 straight shots while Seton Hall couldn’t hit on 9 straight. 10 minutes of game time without a field goal by either team. Reid Travis finally ended that by hitting a shot as he was fouled. He hit the free throw to give UK a 19-16 advantage with under 6 minutes to play in the half.
Immanuel Quickley had a nice first half as he knocked down a confident three pointer and followed that up with a drive to the basket, in traffic, for a lay-up. Cats were up 26-19 but allowed a Seton Hall three to cut it back to 22-19. Quckley hit another three late in the half to give UK a 31-25 lead.
That was the advantage at the half. UK shooting just 31% from the field although the Wildcats hit 3-9 from three point range. Seton Hall shooting just 33%. Coach Calipari talking at the half said he was pleased with the defense.
UK was led in scoring by P.J. Washington’s early 11 points, Immanuel Quickley added 8 while Reid Travis has 6 points, 5 rebounds.
Seton Hall started the second half strong by outscoring UK 16-8 and using a 9-0 run to take the lead 41-39 on a Taurean Thompson shot in the lane. They’d add a steal and layup from Quincy Morgan to extend the lead to four before Quade Green hit a long two to make it 43-41 Pirates.
The freshmen got the Cats going. Off a long rebound, Tyler Herro too the ball all the way for a tough, left-handed lay-up. Then, Ashton Hagans would drive baseline for a lay-in as he was fouled. The Cats would retake the lead at 46-45.
Tied at 51 with just over 7 minutes to play, Washington had a half hook shot in the lane to give UK the lead. After a Myles Powell 3, Herro dropped in a lay-up for a 55-54 UK lead. Then, Washington had a rebound putback as he was fouled. The free throw was good to give UK a four point lead.
P.J. Washington would take over down the stretch for Kentucky hitting shots in the lane, 12 late in the game while Seton Hall’s Myles Powell did the same from three point range, 4 of them.
Powell hit an off-balance, fadeaway three pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining to give Seton Hall the 70-67 lead and it appeared over. Washington would inbound the ball to midcourt to Keldon Johnson and he hit the shot at the buzzer to tie it and send it to overtime.
In the OT, Seton Hall scored two quick buckets. UK would cut the lead to one as Washington hit one of two free throws. But, Powell hit another three pointer to extend the lead again. Hagans would hit a lay-up to cut the lead to two then take the lead on a Keldon Johnson three pointer, 82-81.
Hagans was fouled and hit one of two and then Seton Hall found Myles Cale for a three pointer to take an 84-83 lead with 8 seconds to go. UK came down without calling timeout and this time Keldon Johnson’s shot was off the mark.
UK falls 84-83 in overtime to drop to 7-2 on the season. The Wildcats were led by Washington’s 29 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Reid Travis added 13 before fouling out. Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson added 10 each.
UK plays next Saturday at home against Utah with tip off set for 5:00pm on ESPN2.
