LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gonzaga felt the energy and history of Rupp Arena, then created a landmark No. 17 Kentucky didn't want.
Anton Watson scored 17 points, including a go-ahead three-point play with 3:49 left before adding two key layups in the final 91 seconds, Ben Gregg and Nolan Hickman made key free throws in the final minutes and Gonzaga survived. to a comeback in the second half. to beat No. 17 Kentucky 89-85 on Saturday.
The Wildcats (16-7) have now lost three in a row at Rupp Arena for the first time since it opened in 1976. Kentucky had not lost three in a row at home since the 1966-67 season, when it played at Memorial Coliseum.
“When you walk into this building and it's been packed like it has been for three games, we normally come out on fire and we haven't,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.
Meanwhile, Gonzaga came away from its first trip to Lexington with a lot to savor.
The Bulldogs (18-6) outscored Kentucky in nearly every phase to lead 42-32 at halftime before the Wildcats pulled ahead to force a back-and-forth contest. Reed Sheppard's three-point play with 4:07 left tied the game at 75, but Watson provided the go-ahead layup and ensuing free throw to put Gonzaga ahead for good, 78-75.
“When you have a skillful 4 [power forward] Like Anton, defensive schemes change,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said of Watson, who was 6 of 13 from the field.
“We finally made plays down the stretch. We made shots and finally made some free throws.”
Watson followed Ryan Nembhard's two free throws and Graham Ike's layup with a key tip with 1:31 left for an 84-80 lead and another basket 36 seconds later for another four-point cushion that Kentucky couldn't erase. Gregg stole a lob pass intended for Adou Thiero (15 points, three blocks) and made 1 of 2 free throws with 5 seconds left. Hickman made two more with one second left to seal a big win.
Sheppard scored 21 points and Antonio Reeves 17 for Kentucky.
Ike scored a team-high 23 points before fouling out with 43 seconds left, Hickman scored 17 and Braden Huff 12 as Gonzaga outshot Kentucky 47% to 46%. The Bulldogs did most of their damage near the basket, outscoring the Wildcats 50-40 in the paint and outrebounding them 43-31, including 18 offensive rebounds.
Gonzaga was nearly perfect from the free throw line after halftime, hitting 18 of 19 attempts and 21 of 24 overall.
“This win was definitely a step in the right direction,” Ike said. “We closed out the game like we were supposed to and it's a fantastic feeling.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
