As Kentucky basketball fans, BBN is used to a rich history filled with iconic wins, buzzer-beaters, and all-time rivalries. But did you know there’s just one tie in the history of the Wildcats? That’s right — a single tie in the entire history. And it happened against none other than Kentucky Wesleyan. How does a basketball game end in a tie?
The game took place in February 1918, in Winchester, Kentucky, where Kentucky Wesleyan played before it moved to Owensboro later on. The Wildcats were led by coach Stanley Boles, while Wesleyan’s head coach was Marvin Eagle. Both teams fought hard according to newspaper reports, but the contest took an unexpected turn after the game ended, leading to one of the strangest events in Kentucky basketball history.
On the night of the game, it seemed like Kentucky had lost 22-21. But something wasn’t quite right. After both teams left the gym and began dressing, an error in the score was discovered. It turns out that a foul shot for Kentucky Wesleyan had been counted incorrectly. When Coach Boles questioned the referee, Burr, he admitted that the free throw shouldn’t have counted. So, the score was adjusted to 21-21, and for the first time, and only time, Kentucky was involved in a tie.
Watched Kentucky’s exhibition blowout win tonight against eight-time D2 National Champions, Kentucky Wesleyan.
— Recruits Zone (Blake Smith) (@recruitszone) October 24, 2024
I can’t lie… Some of the most BEAUTIFUL ball movement I’ve seen from a squad in a long time, at any level of basketball. Very unselfish team that showed to be highly… pic.twitter.com/nGT6kyZJGz
Interestingly, the Lexington Leader’s write-up highlighted how the game went down. Kentucky led at halftime, 14-4, but Wesleyan came roaring back in the second half. James Reese and Nunnelly led the charge for Wesleyan, while George Zerfoss was the standout for the Wildcats with three field goals and two successful free throws.
Despite the official score change, there was still a bit of confusion. Some reports suggested that Kentucky Wesleyan might claim the win due to the disallowed free throw. However, the controversy only added to the mystique of this one-of-a-kind game that will probably never happen again; never say never of course.
As Kentucky fans, you have seen plenty of epic wins and sad losses over the years, but that one and only tie will forever be a quirky chapter in the Wildcats' grand basketball legacy.