UK’s upset solidifies SEC’s first win in Big 12-SEC Challenge
A Kentucky fan looks to the scoreboard after Kentucky pulls ahead during the second half of the game against Texas A&M on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 74-73. Photo by Arden Barnes | Staff
January 27, 2018
For the first time in the four-year history of college basketball’s Big 12-SEC Challenge, the SEC came out victorious on Saturday, edging out the Big 12 6-4. The fates of both conferences were determined after the Cats upset the No. 7 ranked West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, West Virginia, 83-76.
Recap: UK defeats WVU with big second half comeback
Aside from UK, the other SEC teams that won that day were Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas. The other major upset that came that day for the SEC was Alabama defeating No. 12 Oklahoma, 80-73.
One of more integral games that gave the SEC the victory was the Arkansas Razorbacks topping Oklahoma State by a point. Razorbacks forward Daniel Gafford scored a go-ahead tip-in with 16.2 seconds left to give Arkansas their final 66-65 lead.
Vanderbilt also barely pulled out a win over TCU with a 81-78 win. The hero in that game for the Commodores was Riley LaChance, who scored a three-pointer with 1:17 left in the game to secure the final lead.
The day began in favor of the Big 12 who started out 3-1, all thanks to wins from Texas Tech, Texas and Kansas State. Although many may have thought the BIG 12 had the victory at that point, the tide would shift in favor of the SEC from that point on.
Alabama’s upset, Tennessee’s win and Vanderbilt’s close victory gave the SEC a 4-3 lead on the day. Kansas would top Texas A&M later in the day, but Arkansas’ tight win evened up the series, setting the stage for UK.
When UK was down by 17 at one point in their game, the Big 12 looked like they had the win. However, the Cats, led by Kevin Knox’s 34-point performance, had a 21-2 run at one point to come back and stun the Mountaineers.
All Big 12 teams participated today, while four SEC teams were absent from the challenge.
The only SEC team undefeated in the challenge is Alabama, who is now 3-0. The SEC is now 21-29 all-time against Big 12 opponents in the challenge.
In the first three challenges between the two conferences, the BIG 12 came out victorious. Both conferences were tied last year, and a loss today by Kentucky would have guaranteed a second consecutive tie.
