Engaged in a tight game against Michigan at O2 Arena, No. 19 Kentucky needed a spark. So the Cats, naturally, turned to a player who seems to almost always make good things happen.
While most would assume that the player in question would be defending National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe. However, on Sunday that player was freshman Cason Wallace.
Kentucky held a 37-36 lead at the half against Michigan, but the Cats opened the second half on an 8-1 run. All eight of the points were scored by Wallace, on a pair of three-point baskets and a jump shot. The Cats suddenly found themselves with their largest lead of the game to that point, 45-37.
Michigan, however, would not go away. The Wolverines trailed 49-42 when they assembled an 8-0 run to grab a 50-49 lead with 12:42 to play.
Late in the game, with the Cats holding a tenuous 68-66 lead and needing a basket, it was Wallace who came through again. This time, he connected on his fourth three-pointer (in four tries) of the game, extending the UK lead to 71-66 with 1:11 to play.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.