Kentucky Wildcats pull out a close one
A HUGE night for the Kentucky Wildcats for a few reasons. First it is Head Coach John Calipari’s Birthday, the coach that returned Kentucky to the top of the College Basketball world is now 56, feel free to wish him the best @UKCoachCalipari. Second, LSU is one of the only teams left in the SEC who has size down low to contend with the Kentucky Wildcats length. Finally, one of the best recruits left on Calipari’s radar Malik Newman will be in attendance. Oh yea, and Kentucky Wildcats star NBA player Anthony Davis stopped by to see the action as well… no big deal.
"Newman, a 6-foot-3 combo guard who’s rated as the No. 4 overall prospect and top shooting guard on the ESPN 100 list, recently announced he wanted to take official visits to Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, North Carolina State and Ohio State."
First Half
As expected, LSU came out with a bang and ready to play. The energy in the stadium was electric as the Tigers jumped out to a 10-2 lead early. Kentucky would have to rely on the freshmen studs Devin Booker and Karl Towns to bring them back into the game. Nine points from Booker and relentless rebounding from Towns would be enough to bring the Kentucky Wildcats back into the game. LSU did not let the Cats just run away with it, Jarell Martin and Keith Hornsby alone put up 22 points. The shooting of Hornsby kept the Wildcats defense honest by making them have to go out to the mid range to guard him, leading to easier buckets for Martin. However, Dakari Johnson, and Aaron Harrison were able to chip in 13 combined points as well to give the Kentucky Wildcats a four point lead heading into halftime.
Feb 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) is defended by LSU Tigers guard Keith Hornsby (4) and forward Jarell Martin (1) and forward Jordan Mickey (25) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Second Half
The start of the second half was great for the Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats jumped out to a to a 10 point advantage and it looked as if it would be smooth sailing from there. Not so fast, LSU was not ready to call it quits. After a technical foul on Karl Towns for hanging on the rim, the tides turned.
The Tigers turned that into a 21-2 run and Kentucky fans started to move closer and closer to the edge of their seat. It looked as if the Kentucky Wildcats shot at history was over. Luckily Karl Towns would not let the Cats lose, not today. Towns has surely found his groove and is proving why he is so high on draft boards. Every time Kentucky needed a rebound or a basket, he was there. He hit a crucial hook shot in the post to take the lead and the Kentucky Wildcats would not lose it again. Karl Towns was the X-factor tonight as he ended the game with 12 points and 13 rebounds and 1 photo bomb on John Calipari.
A last second heave by Keith Hornsby would be ever so slightly to the right to end LSU’s hopes at an upset. Although John Calipari would have preferred to have had a more calm birthday win, a win is a win. The Kentucky Wildcats will move to 24-0 and host the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday. For now, enjoy the win because that was scary.