Oscar Tshiebwe makes history again in shocking loss plus Boxscore and Other Game Notes

 

Go here for boxscore.

 

UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES

KENTUCKY vs. SAINT PETER’S

NCAA TOURNAMENT, EAST REGION FIRST ROUND

GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE | INDIANAPOLIS, IND.

MARCH 17, 2022
ATTENDANCE: TBA

Final Score: St. Peter’s 85, Kentucky 79 (overtime)

Team Records, Series Notes, Etc.

• Kentucky ends the season 26-8 overall.  Saint Peter’s won its eighth in a row and is 20-11. 
• This was the first meeting between the teams.

Team Notes

• The game featured 16 ties and 13 lead changes.
• Kentucky won the rebounding battle 36-35, leading to a 15-14 advantage in second-chance points.
  • UK had a 23-5 record this season when leading the rebounding.
• Kentucky is now 3-7 in overtime games in the NCAA Tournament.              
  • UK is 63-50 all-time in overtime games, including 1-1 this season.
• Kentucky is now 129-53 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. 
• Kentucky holds NCAA records for most tournament appearances (59), most games played (182) and most victories (129).
• UK is 48-11 in its opening game in the tourney (regardless of seeding/position in the bracket).
• UK is 20-7 as a No. 2 seed in the tournament since seedings began in 1980.
• UK is 31-9 in the NCAA Tournament under Calipari. Since he took over in the 2009-10 season, going into this year’s tournament, the Wildcats lead the country in:
  • NCAA Tournament wins – 31
  • Final Four appearances – four
  • Elite Eight appearances – seven
  • Sweet 16 appearances – eight 

Player Notes                                                                                                                                         

• Oscar Tshiebwe had a career-high-tying 30 points, along with 16 rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals.
  • He is the first player in UK history with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game. 
  • It is the third time this season he scored 30 points in a game.
  • It is his 16th-straight double-double, most for a Wildcat since at least 1967-68 (complete single-game rebounding information available since that season).
  • It is his 28^th double-double of the season, a school record for most in a season.
  • He scored double figures in 16 straight games, best at UK since Immanuel Quickley had a 20-game stretch in the 2019-20 season.
  • The nation’s leading rebounder has 21 straight games with double-figure rebounds, longest streak in one season since Rokas Gustys of Hofstra had a 21-game stretch in 2016.  Tshiebwe has grabbed double-figure boards in all but two games this season.
  • It is his seventh game this season with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, most since Dan Issel has 10 such games in the 1969-70 season.
  • Reached the 1,000-point mark in his career, has 1,023 points during his time at Kentucky and West Virginia.
  • Has 515 rebounds this season, becoming the third player in school history with 500 rebounds in one season.
• Sahvir Wheeler had 11 points, a game-high six assists and four rebounds. It is his 16^th double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Kellan Grady had eight points.  He finished his collegiate career with 2,389 points at Kentucky and Davidson, ranking No. 111 on the all-time Division I scoring list. 
• Davion Mintz had eight points. He finished his collegiate career with 1,188 points at Kentucky and Creighton.

Coach John Calipari

• Calipari is now 365-101 (78.3%) at UK.
  • UK is 298-57 (83.9%) vs. unranked competition under Calipari,
• Calipari has an 810-241 (77.1%) all-time on-court record. 
• Calipari is 56-20 (73.7%) in the NCAA Tournament, including 31-9 (77.5%) at Kentucky.

In the First Half

• The starting lineup was Sahvir Wheeler, TyTy Washington Jr., Kellan Grady, Keion Brooks Jr. and Oscar Tshiebwe for the 26th time this season.  The Wildcats are 19-7 with this lineup.
• Jacob Toppin and Davion Mintz were the first UK substitutions at the 15:50 mark. It is the team-best 17th time this season that Toppin has been first off the bench and eighth time for Mintz.
• The teams played evenly throughout the first half, which featured eight ties and four lead changes, and was tied at 37 at intermission.
• Saint Peter’s largest lead of the half was 15-10 while Kentucky led by four on two occasions.
• Tshiebwe led Kentucky in the first half with 12 points and six rebounds.
• This was the first time this season that UK’s game was tied at halftime.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starting lineup. 
• Kentucky missed its first six shots of the second half.
• Trailing 40-38, Kentucky went on a 7-0 run for its largest lead of the to go ahead 45-40.
• Trailing 49-44, Saint Peter’s rallied with an 11-3 spurt to reclaim the advantage at 55-52.
• Wheeler’s basket-and-one with 6:23 to go put UK ahead 61-60, the start of a 10-2 run that gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game at 68-62 with 4:12 to go. 
• Saint Peter’s rallied with seven straight to go ahead 69-68.
• Grady made a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left, and SPU countered with a basket to tie it at 71. 
• Kentucky missed a shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
• Tshiebwe led UK in the second half with 14 points and eight rebounds.

In Overtime

• Tshiebwe got the first two baskets of overtime to put UK ahead 75-71 but Saint Peter’s tied at 75.
• With 2:05 remaining, Mintz made the first of two free throws to make it 76-75.
• Saint Peter’s got the next six points to go ahead 81-76.
• Washington hit a 3-pointer with 21.6 seconds left to close to 81-79. 
• St. Peter’s made four more free throws and won 85-79.