In a game where frustration occurred as much off the court as on, Kentucky drops another one on the road, 77-76, as the Hogs end a 10-game losing streak to Kentucky.
“I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the deal,” Pelphrey said. “Every time you step on court, it’s the largest crowd of the year. Everybody wants to measure themselves against those guys (Kentucky). I know that feeling.
Brandon Knight was the man for the Cats, scoring 26 points on 8-23 from the court and 1-8 from the 3-point line. Kentucky had their chances, but couldn’t get it done in critical times. Kentucky’s inability to secure the rebound at the end of regulation allowed the Nobles layup and eventually overtime.
In a post-game press conference that seemed more like a war planning party, Calipari expressed his displeasure with the teams performance stating “they wanted it worse then we wanted it.”
The turning point in the game came at the 15:31 mark of the second. Kentucky, with a DeAndre Liggins layup, had forged out their biggest margin at 43-37.
Arkansas answered with a 10-0 run over the next 1:54. A run fueled by seven made free throws from Rotnei Clarke. Clarke’s free throws came at the hands of Josh Harrellson on a 3-point attempt and DeAndre Liggins not once, but twice on an attempted layup and then on the Liggins technical.
The two teams traded the lead seven times over the last 6:53, with Kentucky never leading by more then one until the 1:14 mark when Brandon Knight hit a jumper, putting the Cats up 70-68.
After an Arkansas timeout, Julysses Nobles missed a layup but was able to somehow secure his own rebound, driving it in for a layup to tie the game at 70, eventually sending it into overtime.
In overtime, Kentucky owned a 76-75 lead with 19 seconds remaining, but Brandon Knight’s errant pass ended up in the hands of Arkansas’ Jeff Peterson who pitched it ahead to Marcus Britt for the go ahead layup.
The Cats managed three shots in the last seven seconds, with Knight taking all three, but despite a career high 26 from Brandon, he couldn’t convert on the one that counted and the Wildcats went to 1-6 on the road, 19-8 overall and 7-6 in the conference.
“If you’re not angry by this, like angry that this is happening and that we’re going to stop this from happening, it won’t change,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “I know I’m angry.”
Marshawn Powell and Rotnei Clarke was eventually the death of the Cats as Kentucky had no defensive answer to stop the Razorback duo.
Clarke scored 26 points on 6-16 from the field, 3-9 from behind the arc and hit 11-12 free throws. Powell pitched in 22 and had 10 rebounds as he muscled Darius Miller around down low.
Knight ended with a career high 26 points, Miller and Liggins each had 13 and Josh Harrellson ended the night with the teams double-double, 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Most importantly, Kentucky no longer controls it’s own destiny in the East. To grab a bye in the SEC Tourney, they need to win out and hope Georgia losses at least one more, forcing a two way tie for second and securing the tie-breaker with a better record over the teams in the East.
Up next for Kentucky, Florida in the friendly confines of Rupp.
Go Cats!!!
