Stats, highlights, and stars from Kentucky basketball's stunning OT win against Gonzaga in Seattle

On the heels of a shaky win against Western Kentucky, and a demoralizing loss to Clemson, the Cats needed to bounce back in a big way against the Zags. The fans were there and ready.

The players were not. In fact, it was the exact opposite nearly from the tip, as the Cats trudged through a forgettable first half against Gonzaga. The game started hot as the replacement for Lamont Butler, Kerr Kriisa hit a three and Jaxon Robinson followed it up with another.

The Cats and Zags then battled back and forth until midway through the first half. At the under 12 timeout it was 21-12, and the lead would only balloon from there. Every shot Kentucky got in the first half was tough or contested.

It was clear Kentucky lacked urgency as well. Koby Brea hit a jumper with 5 minutes left to trim the lead to 40-32. It would be Kentucky, it would be Kentucky's last made field goal of the half. Carr did hit two free throws, but it was all Zags at the half 50-34. You simply can't go that long without a made basket and win big games.

Stats from the first half

Shooting just 33.3% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc, the Wildcats couldn’t find a rhythm offensively. Jaxson Robinson’s 1-8 shooting performance, including 1-4 from three, epitomized the team’s struggles. His hesitant play mirrored the overall lack of confidence on the court. Amari Williams was equally ineffective, scoring just 2 points and contributing little on the boards, as Gonzaga asserted their dominance in the paint.

Rebounding was a glaring issue, with the Bulldogs out-rebounding Kentucky 25-16 overall and 17-9 on the defensive end. Gonzaga controlled the tempo, while Kentucky’s inability to secure second-chance points only deepened their offensive woes as shots clanged off the rim.

Gonzaga capitalized on their opportunities, shooting 54% from the floor and displaying a cohesive attack led by Graham Ike, who posted 18 points and 8 rebounds in the first half!

Transition play, often a strength for Kentucky, was nonexistent. The Wildcats failed to register a single fast-break point in the half. Not so for the Zags.

The second half started much better for the Cats as they came out looking aggressive, forcing Gonzaga into an early timeout with a 7-0 run to cut the lead back down to 10 with 16:20 to play.

A great start continued as Carr made an agressive move to the hoop to cut it to 8, and Garrison supplied good defensive pressure forcing Ike into a miss. Oweh then drove to the basket and went for a hammer, but was fouled sending the game to the under 16 time-out with the Cats having a chance to cut it to 6 from the line.

Oweh then converted both, and Kentucky cut it to 4 on the next possession. Gonzaga answered right back with 3 straight possessions of at least 1 offensive rebound and pushed the lead back to 6. Kentucky is toying with a 1-3-1 zone and switching back into a man-to-man, and it is slowing Gonzaga down.

RIght on queue Koby Brea gets a clean look and extends the run to a 16-2 Kentucky blitz to make it 58-55. A turnover by Oweh and a questionable foul call on a Brea block, sent Gonzaga to the free throw line at the under 12 time-out.

The whistle again unkind to the Cats in this one, as a couple of questionable calls in a row went the way of Gonzaga allowing them to re-establish control 63-59. Brea with an airball and an unfortunate cramp from Kriisa let the Zags get in the open court to make a layup 65-59.

The Cats went cold again though, before another Carr dunk with 7:30 to go. Oweh had a chance from the corner to cut it to 1 but his three was off and the Zags again went back to the line, but could not convert.

Suddenly under 6 to go and its a 2 point game, Ike then got a baby hook to go pushing the lead back to 4. Answered quickly with a Jaxon Robinson layup. Right back went the Zags with an and-1 for Ike to push it to 5. Back and forth the game went with both teams making big time plays.

The Zags are up 5 with 2:54 to go with Amari Williams at the line. He converted both, and after two more free throws from Robinson, it was 76-75 Zags with 2 to go. Kentucky stays in a zone but it allowed an easy dunk for the Zags. Jaxon Robinson answered again with a mid range pull up to keep it at 1 with 1:29 to go as Pope calls timeout.

Graham Ike continues to be a menace as he drew another foul, however he converted only 1 of 2 leaving the Cats with a chance to tie or take the lead. That statment is crazy considering how the game began, but Andrew Carr rises up from mid range to tie it up. Kentucky has fought all the way back with just under 1 minute to go.

Gonzaga went into Ike again, but the big man couldn't answer Carr's basket. With only .5 difference the Cats can essentially take the last shot as Pope called a time-out.

Oweh got a clear run to the rim, but went for a lob to Williams and Ike slapped it away. Brea got a huge rebound but his jumper was just short as he was fading back, and it is OT in Seattle.

After a massive block from Amari Williams, Oweh flushed a massive dunk. Another stop, and another dunk, this time from Amari Williams put the Cats up 4, their biggest lead of the night.

Amari Williams with a hook shot down low to extend the lead to 6. After another stop, Oweh missed Kentucky's first free throw of the night. The Zags answered with a huge corner three to cut it to 4. Kentucky with a bad offensive possession, and Nembhard rings the bell from the 3 yet again to cut Kentucky's lead back to 1 with 1:34 to go. Time-out Mark Pope.

A miss from deep by Brea led to a huge offensive rebound by Andrew Carr who put it back in to push the lead back to 3. A quick timeout from Mark Few and Kentucky is back in a zone before switching to man.

Brea was switched off to Ike, and committed a foul sending Ike to the line with 43.9 to go. Ike converted the first and missed the second. Oweh with a huge rebound, and Pope takes his last time-out of the game with 32.9 to go and 20 on the shot clock.

Robinson with a massive floater to put the Cats up 4, but Nolan Hickman with a dagger 3 with 5 to go. Mark Few with a quick time-out, and the Cats must inbound the ball with no time-outs.

Brea inbounds the ball to Carr who is going to the line. Gonzaga also is out of time-outs, as Carr missed the first and second. Gonaga fumbled it away as Carr knocks the ball away from behind, and the clock runs out without the Zags getting a shot off allowing the Cats to escape with a 90-89 win.

3 stars of the night

1. Andrew Carr

Carr had a night to forget against Clemson, but fought back to have a big impact in this one. Carr finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds.

2. Brandon Garrison

Amari Williams was nearly unplayable all night long until OT, and Garrison answered the bell when needed. He finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

3. Koby Brea

His shot did not fall like it has been, maybe a regression back to the mean. But his defense and his rebounding were key to spark the run that made it close again. He also handled a lot of point duties after Kerr was hurt. He finished with 5 points and 7 rebounds.

Honory mention to second half Jaxon Robinson who was a different player.

What a win for Kentucky. Up next a Wednesday night in Rupp against Colgate.