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Gonzaga Bulldogs 89, Kentucky Wildcats 85: Live updates recap, highlights

Bulldogs upset the No. 17 Wildcats at Rupp Arena

Cole Forsman

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The Gonzaga Bulldogs picked up their biggest win of the season with an 89-85 upset over the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on Saturday.

Graham Ike led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, Nolan Hickman and Anton Watson had 17 each and the Bulldogs held the nation's top scoring offense without a field goal over the last 2:48 in the second half.

Reed Sheppard helped Kentucky (16-7, 6-4 SEC) overcome a double-digit deficit at halftime with 21 points in the second half. Antonio Reeves added 17 points and Adou Thiero had 15 points and three blocks

Gonzaga (18-6, 8-2 WCC) jumped out to a double-digit lead at halftime after a 13-5 scoring run made it a 42-32 game at the break. 

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The Wildcats weathered the storm with a 12-0 scoring run in the second half to lead 57-51 with 12:30 left in regulation. Ike got an and-one the ensuing play, followed by free-throws from Nembhard to bring Gonzaga back within striking distance.

Ike headed to the bench at the 8:30 mark after picking up his fourth personal foul, though Braden Huff was ready for the moment. The redshirt freshman scored eight straight points for the Bulldogs to make it a 75-72 game at the 4:53 mark. Huff finished with 12 points.

Ben Gregg came up big down the stretch defensively with multiple hustle plays to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard. With Gonzaga up 86-84, Gregg intercepted an alley-oop pass intended for Thiero before going 1-for-2 at the free-throw line. He had 14 points, two blocks and two steals.

Leading 87-84, Gonzaga fouled Reeves with 4.1 seconds left. The 6-foot-6 guard missed the second free-throw intentionally to give the Wildcats a chance at an offensive rebound, though Hickman wound up with the rock and iced the game at the free-throw line.

The second of a six-game series between the two programs was just the third all-time head-to-head meeting. Gonzaga thumped Kentucky, 88-72, last season at the Spokane Arena.

Here is the live updates recap:

FINAL: Gonzaga 89, Kentucky 85

SECOND HALF:

Gonzaga 86, Kentucky 84 (0:05): Gregg stole an alley-oop pass from Sheppard intended for Thiero. 

Gonzaga 86, Kentucky 84 (0:13): Hickman drove to the rim as the shot clock expired only for Edwards to force a jumpball. Possession arrow pointed for the Wildcats.

Gonzaga 86, Kentucky 84 (0:43): Watson cleaned up a missed jumper from Hickman for a putback layup. Sheppard got two free-throws on the other end, followed by another score from Watson on a strong drive and sweeping layup. Ike fouled out with 43 seconds left as he tried to break up an alley-oop to Ugonna Onyenso.

Gonzaga 77, Kentucky 75 (3:49): Huff stepped up with eight-straight points to keep the Bulldogs alive down the stretch. Gregg hustled for a loose ball after knocking away an errant pass, only for Sheppard to block Hickman's 3-point attempt moments later and scored on the other end. Watson fired back with an and-one moments later.

Gonzaga 67, Kentucky 66 (7:55): The Bulldogs weathered the storm to make it a back-and-forth battle. Watson connected on a 3-pointer off an assist from Nembhard, his sixth of the game. Ike, who had two dunks earlier in the half, picked up his fourth foul and headed to the bench at the 8:30 mark.

Kentucky 57, Gonzaga 54: Sheppard got hot amid Kentucky's 12-0 scoring run, as the freshman knocked a pass to Nembhard away and scored a layup on the other end followed by an and-one over Ike. Gonzaga halted the scoring run with an and-one from Ike.

Kentucky 52, Gonzaga 51 (13:24): Wildcats rattled off a 7-0 scoring run capped off by a 3-pointer from Reeves in transition to retake the lead.

Gonzaga 50, Kentucky 45 (15:31): Huff snapped the Bulldogs' scoring drought with a right-handed hook in the paint. Reeves answered back with a drive and finish over Huff's contest, though Watson got the score back with an and-one over Thiero. 

Gonzaga 46, Kentucky 42 (17:09): Kentucky clamped down its interior defense with two rejections on Ike early, while the offense made four of its first six attempts to fuel a 10-4 scoring run. Edwards took advantage of Gonzaga's scrambling defense with a jumper inside, followed by a timeout from Gonzaga.

FIRST HALF:

HALFTIME: Gonzaga 42, Kentucky 32: Bulldogs jumped ahead by double-digits on the back of a 13-5 scoring run to close the first half. Kentucky cut its deficit to two points with just under five minutes to go before Gregg drilled a 3-pointer, followed by a heads-up play from Huff to intercept an outlet pass for an easy dunk. Watson intercepted a pass from Sheppard, hustled up the court and finished through Wagner for an and-one. Ike led all scorers with 12 points. 

Gonzaga 30, Kentucky 27 (3:44): Ike silenced the Rupp Arena crowd with a putback layup off an airball from Watson in the post. Wagner answered with a jumper in the paint the next possession as both sides traded blows down the stretch in the first half.

Gonzaga 25, Kentucky 20 (7:13): Nembhard scooped up an offensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer from Gregg, who managed to score after his own miss after Nembhard zipped a pass to him for a dunk. Zvonimir Ivisic responded with the Wildcats' first 3-pointer of the game. Gonzaga started 11-of-25 from the field, while Kentucky was 7-for-23 to start.

Gonzaga 21, Kentucky 15 (11:40): Hickman drilled a pull-up triple to keep the Bulldogs out in front early. Thiero, who averaged 6.9 points entering the game, had eight points off three dunks and a pair of free throws. Aaron Bradshaw picked up his second foul at the 15:10 mark.

Gonzaga 13, Kentucky 6 (15:36): Thiero recovered his own missed floater for a putback jam through Ike and Gregg for his second dunk in the opening minutes. Hickman responded on the other end as he drove in the lane and scored off a pick-and-roll set.

Gonzaga 11, Kentucky 4 (16:47): The Bulldogs got off to a fast start with five of their first eight shot attempts going down, including a 3-pointer from Gregg. Hickman got his own missed shot back and finished, prompting a timeout from Kentucky.

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Cole Forsman
COLE FORSMAN

Cole Forsman is a reporter for Gonzaga Bulldogs On SI. Cole holds a degree in Journalism and Sports Management from Gonzaga University.

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