It was a night that won’t soon be forgotten in Lafayette, Louisiana - especially not by Greg Williams.
Still riding the emotional high a day later, Williams was beaming with pride after watching his son, Kam Williams, play a key role in Kentucky’s wild comeback win over LSU. The victory was sealed by a buzzer-beating 15-foot jumper from Malachi Moreno, capping off one of the more dramatic finishes of Kentucky’s season.
For Kam, a sophomore guard for the Wildcats, the game was more than just another SEC road test - it was a homecoming. The Lafayette native had a sizable cheering section behind him, with more than 100 family members, friends, and hometown supporters making the trip to Baton Rouge. And they were treated to a game that had all the emotional swings you could ask for.
“It was such a crazy night that is still hard to explain,” Greg Williams said. “We went from the top of the mountain when Oweh made one free throw to cut it to one, to down in the valley when he missed the second. Then you hear the LSU music and chants - it felt like the game was slipping away.”
And yet, it wasn’t. In the blink of an eye, Kentucky flipped the script. One long pass, one catch, one shot - and suddenly the Wildcats were walking off the floor with a win that felt like it came straight out of a movie script.
“I’m 57, and I was running up and down in the stands going crazy,” Greg said, laughing. “It was a night to remember.”
The atmosphere in the building was electric, and for Kam, the support from his hometown was overwhelming. Greg noted that some fans drove over an hour to be there, and some kids even skipped their own basketball games just to watch Kam play.
“The whole family came. It was crazy,” Greg said.
“Some folks I didn’t even know showed up - four guys from the north shore outside New Orleans came just to watch Kam. Apparently, one of their kids played against Kam and beat him when he was seven or eight.
They’ve been following him ever since.”
Kam’s basketball roots run deep in Lafayette. His older brother, Greg Jr., once held all the school records before Kam came along and broke them all. Around town, Kam’s name carries weight - the kind of local legend status that’s hard to quantify but easy to feel.
And after the game? That legend only grew.
Outside the team bus, it was pandemonium. Kam was swarmed by fans asking for autographs, photos, and just a moment of his time.
And he wasn’t alone. The entire Kentucky team came out to greet the crowd, showing the kind of humility and appreciation that builds lifelong fans.
“That’s what’s great about Kentucky,” Greg said. “They were there for Kam, sure, but they were just as excited to see the rest of the team.”
Naturally, Moreno drew plenty of attention. After all, he was the hero of the night, and at 7 feet tall, he stood out - literally.
“We don’t have people that tall in Louisiana,” Greg joked. “Everybody wanted to size up next to him, and he loved it.”
But it wasn’t just about height or heroics. What stood out most was how the players carried themselves. They were patient, gracious, and genuinely seemed to enjoy the moment - posing for photos, signing autographs, and making every fan feel like they mattered.
Even head coach Mark Pope got in on the action.
“Pope came out and did the same thing as the players,” Greg said. “Our people were thrilled. They couldn’t believe how approachable and kind the whole team was.”
For Greg Williams, the night was about more than just a win - it was a glimpse into what makes Kentucky basketball special. And maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something bigger.
“I try to get people to stay positive,” he said. “It’s so tough to go undefeated in any conference.
Even in a so-called down year, the SEC is still very, very competitive. I’m not sure everyone always remembers that.”
What everyone will remember, though, is that one night in Baton Rouge - when a hometown kid came back, a team pulled off the improbable, and a community got to share in something unforgettable.