John Calipari was 8-1 in SEC openers as head coach of Kentucky coming into Saturday’s game against Alabama. That 8-1 record would drop to 8-2 as the Crimson Tide won and advanced to 10-3 on the young season. Alabama picked up their 1st win over Kentucky in the last eleven tries and first time since 2013. Both teams got off to a hot start as after 5 minutes in things were knotted at 16. Tevin Mack (Texas Transfer) started on fire going 4 of 4 from the field for a quick 10 points. Keep in mind Mack was shooting under 30% from 3 coming into this game.
Kentucky started 7 of 9 from the field while Bama matched that with a 7 of 10 clip. Graduate Transfer Reid Travis matched the quick start of Mack producing an early 8 points and 2 rebounds in the first 6 minutes. UK gained the lead at the 10:47 mark as Hagans really begin to find a grove on the offensive side of the floor with a couple nice assists to go along with an and-1. Shortly after at around the 6 minute mark in the 1st half Alabama found itself in a fast break opportunity that ended in a monstrous alley-oop finished by Donta Hall for his 6th point of the half. Cats maintained the lead 29-26, then Tevin Mack hit back to back 3’s for his 4th and 5th of the game to give the Crimson Tide a 32-29 advantage. Mack had 17 points at the under 4 timeout.
Mack continued his hot start the rest of the 1st half matching his career high of 6 3’s for a total of 20 points. After a pull-up jumper from Tyler Herro Kentucky regained the lead 36-35 on Hagans 2nd and-one of the 1st half. The scoring slowed down to finish the half after a few missed bunnies and turnovers by each team. A huge put back slam by Hall would knot things up under the 1 minute mark but the Cats would lead at halftime after a pair of free throws from Keldon Johnson 40-38. All 5 starters for Kentucky were in the scoring column as the scoring load was spread around. Alabama didn’t have much going offensively minus Mack and Hall.
Alabama regained the lead on its ninth 3 pointer of the game from 17 year old Kira Lewis before a minute of the half had expired. Herbert Jones picked up his 15th charge drawn in just the 13th game for the Tide, as Alabama pushed its run to 8-0 before the Cats answered with a 3. Game of runs to start the 2nd half as Alabama’s 8-0 run was followed by a 7-0 run by Kentucky as they regained the lead for a short moment. Things would go back and forth for a few possessions with Alabama leading 54-53 at the under 12 timeout. EJ Montgomery picked up his 1st bucket of the game to cut the lead to one.
Tevin Mack cooled off in the 2nd half as halfway through he was scoreless coming off a missed 3 at the 10 minute mark, however he found the bottom of the net off an offensive rebound for his 22nd point of the night. Crimson Tide led 59-53 at the 8:15 mark. PJ Washington nailed two free throws off a go ahead pass from Hagans off his steal to cut the lead back to 5. Hagans with another steal on the ensuing possession gave the Cats a chance to cut into the lead even further but Travis missed a mid-range jumper. Washington had an emphatic slam after a loose ball scrum that once again had the Crimson Tide lead back down to 5 but Freshman Kira Lewis answered with a pull-up 3 to push their lead back to 8.
The last 4:11 would be a tough test for the Alabama squad but it was their game to lose leading 68-61 approaching the under 4 timeout. Wildcats shooting woes in the 2nd half led to a bleak 29% from the field at the 3:44 mark. Alabama would extend their lead to 11 which was their largest of the day before a 3 from Keldon Johnson cut it back to 8 with 2:15 to play. An alley-oop from Hagans to Washington cut the lead to six led to a timeout by Alabama out of a double team. John Petty would finish in transition and push the lead to 8 to try to help Alabama hang on. Tyler Herro followed that with an off the dribble 3 to make things somewhat interesting with 39.9 seconds remaining, Hagans forced another turnover on the ensuing possession by Lewis to give the Cats a little life. After that turnover Kentucky was able to cut the lead back to 3 after a quick drive by Ashton.
It would come down to free throws and ball security the rest of the way as Ingram stepped to the line and drained 2. Crimson Tide led 76-71 before another layup from Hagans with just a tick under 16 seconds remaining. Alabama could not get out of this one easily though as they turned it over once again, leading to a slam by PJ Washington. The lead was down to 1 with 5 seconds on the clock. The Tide were able to get the in-bounds pass into John Petty who was fouled immediately. Petty the 74% free throw shooter missed attempt 1 but increased the lead back to 2 by making the second attempt. Herro’s desperation heave from the top of the key rimmed out as the Cats fell 77-75. All five starters finished in double figures for both teams as Mack led the Tide with 22 while Washington led the Wildcats with 15.
