Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Kentucky Wildcats Match Player Stats On Feb 10, 2024

Graham Ike scored 23 points as Gonzaga boosted its NCAA Tournament resume with an 89-85 victory against No. 17 Kentucky on Saturday in Lexington, Ky.

Nolan Hickman and Anton Watson each scored 17 points, Ben Gregg had 14 and Braden Huff scored 12 as the Bulldogs (18-6 overall) rallied from a six-point deficit with 12:30 remaining to post their first Quad 1 victory in six tries this season.

Reed Sheppard scored all 21 of his points in the second half for Kentucky (16-7), which lost its third in a row at home for the first time since 1966 -- 10 years before Rupp Arena opened. Antonio Reeves added 17 points and Adou Thiero scored 15 points for the Wildcats.

Watson's three-point play with 3:49 left snapped a 75-all tie and gave Gonzaga the lead for good. He made two layups in the final 1:31, and Hickman clinched the victory with two free throws with one second remaining.

After trailing 42-32 at the half, the Wildcats put together 11-2 and 12-0 runs to take a 57-51 lead.

Ike's three-point play snapped the latter streak and the Bulldogs regained the lead, 64-63, on an alley-oop pass from Ryan Nembhard to Ike with 8:48 to go.

Reeves converted a three-point play to give Kentucky its last lead before Watson's 3-pointer with 8:22 remaining.

The Bulldogs dominated the first half, leading for nearly 19 minutes and taking a 42-32 lead into the intermission.

After Kentucky scored the game's first basket, the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run, capped by Gregg's 3-pointer, and didn't trail again in the half.

Ike scored 12 in the half and Hickman and Gregg had 11 apiece.

Gregg's dunk gave Gonzaga a 25-17 lead with 7:55 left in the half. The Wildcats pulled within two before the Zags went on a 13-2 run to take their largest lead of the half, 42-29, in the final minute.

--Field Level Media