Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Kentucky Wildcats Match Player Stats On Mar 17, 2022

INDIANAPOLIS -- No. 15 seed Saint Peter's traded blows with second-seeded Kentucky for 40 minutes and then slayed the heavily favored Wildcats in overtime, claiming the program's first NCAA Tournament win, 85-79 in East Region action on Thursday.

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