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Daryl Banks III scored a career-high 27 points with five
3-pointers, the Peacocks made 18 of 21 free throws and Mr. Big
Shot Doug Edert salted away the win with two late free throws
and finished with 20 points.
Saint Peter's (20-11) will oppose No. 7 seed Murray State in the
Round of 32 on Saturday. The Racers edged No. 10 seed San
Francisco 92-87 in overtime.
"We wasn't coming down here just to lose. We came down here to
fight, and we did," Saint Peter's coach Shaheen Holloway said.
"I'm so proud of them and so happy for them because there are
moments people can't take away from them. These guys came in and
took down one of the biggest schools in the country. They are
going to remember this moment for the rest of their lives."
Oscar Tshiebwe had 30 points and 16 rebounds to lead Kentucky
(26-8) with his 16th consecutive double-double. While the
Wildcats outscored Saint Peter's 23-18 on free throws, Kentucky
shot just 65.7 percent at the line and missed 12 times.
"It's sad," Tshiebwe said in a heartfelt series of answers at
the postgame press conference. "I've waited for this a long
time."
The loss was the 10th for a No. 2 seed against a No. 15 seed in
the NCAA Tournament.
Kentucky led 68-62 with 4:12 remaining but couldn't close out
the game, a failure coach John Calipari called inexcusable.
"When you're up (six) with three minutes to go ... you figure
out how to win the game," Calipari said.
TyTy Washington Jr. drilled a low laser of a 3-pointer from the
top of the key to keep Kentucky's hopes alive with 21.6 seconds
left in overtime, cutting the Peacocks' lead to 81-79. But
Matthew Lee and Edert made two free throws apiece as Saint
Mary's sank eight foul shots in a row in the final two minutes
of OT to seal the bracket-busting upset.
A free-throw parade swung the pendulum throughout overtime, and
the 2,637-student school from Jersey City, N.J. wouldn't buckle.
Banks converted two for a 77-76 Saint Peter's advantage with
1:45 remaining in OT, and Sahvir Wheeler overthrew Tshiebwe for
Kentucky's 13th turnover. Hassan Drame recovered a bullet pass
for a right-handed layup and 79-76 lead with 1:02 remaining and
regained possession when Keion Brooks' try hit the bottom of the
rim and caromed off of his head with 41.5 ticks left. An
official replay review gave the Peacocks possession.
Tshiebwe powered in a pair of point-blank baskets and Kentucky
went ahead 75-71 in the first 90 seconds of overtime. Saint
Peter's cut the deficit to three with a free throw and after
Wheeler missed two foul shots, Edert splashed a trey from the
top of the key, knotting the score for the 15th time.
Kellan Grady got a second try at a 3-pointer after missing the
first and made it count, hitting all net from the left wing as
Kentucky grabbed a 71-69 lead with 48 seconds left in
regulation. It would last only one possession. Edert's floating
layup danced around the rim, dropped and tied the game at 71
with 23 seconds remaining.
Washington missed from the potential game-winner from the right
corner in the final seconds.
Banks escaped Grady on a backdoor cut to capitalize Kentucky's
turnover and trim the lead to 68-64, and Saint Peter's cut the
lead to two on Drame's putback. The Peacocks got the ball back
with 1:46 left with another stop.
Edert curled off a screen to the top of the key from the right
corner and rolled in a 3 for the 69-68 lead.
Neither team led by more than five points until the 5-foot-9
Wheeler scooped a layup off the glass just beyond the fingertips
of KC Ndefo. The 68-62 lead beckoned an immediate timeout from
Holloway with 4:12 left. Ndefo's unforced turnover followed,
handing the ball and momentum back to Kentucky.
--By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media
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