By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Myles Cale hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining to send Seton Hall to an 84-83 victory over ninth-ranked Kentucky Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
The Pirates (6-3) led 70-67 with two seconds remaining in regulation but Kentucky’s Keldon Johnson sank a half-court heave at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Johnson’s 3-point attempt at the end of overtime was blocked by Quincy McKnight.
Kentucky forward PJ Washington (25) shoots over Seton Hall forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (23) during the first half. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray from Kentucky Today)
In the first meeting between the two schools since the Pirates’ win over the Wildcats in the 1988 Great Alaska Shootout, both teams struggled to get into a rhythm throughout the first half, but neither could miss down the stretch or in overtime. The loss was Kentucky’s second on a neutral court. The Wildcats lost to Duke 118-84 in the season opener in Indianapolis last month.
Kentucky’s PJ Washington paced the Wildcats with a career-high 29 points and 13 rebounds. Washington made 12 of 13 free throws and dished out a team-high four assists. Reid Travis followed Washington with 13 points and six rebounds. Travis fouled out with 2:20 remaining in regulation.
Tyler Herro and Johnson rounded out four players in double figures with 10 points apiece.
Seton Hall was paced by leading scorer Myles Powell who finished with 28 points. Powell had just three in the first half, but erupted for 25 in the second half. The Pirates connected on 11 3-pointers, paced by Powell, who sank six shots from long range.
BAKER MAKES DEBUT
Kentucky sophomore guard Jermarl Baker made his debut against the Pirates and played one minute in the first half. Baker has been plagued by injuries during his career and missed all of last season because of a knee injury.
STREAK ENDS
The Wildcats fell to 14-4 in games played at Madison Square Garden, including a 4-1 mark under Calipari. In last year’s contest in the historic venue, Kentucky defeated Monmouth, 93-76. Seton Hall improved to 9-3 overall in games played at Madison Square Garden.
KENTUCKY TIES
Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard’s father Ralph Willard served one season as an associate head coach at Kentucky under former Wildcats coach Rick Pitino during the 1989-90 season before taking over at Western Kentucky and led the Hilltoppers from 1990-94. Willard also coached at Pittsburgh and Holy Cross. He also served as an assistant at the University of Louisville under Pitino during the 2009-10 season.
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today. Reach him at keith.taylor@kentuckytoday.com or twitter @keithtaylor21.
