Kentucky didn’t just survive Northern Arizona. It flirted with disaster for 40 minutes and still found a way to leave with a 78-77 win.
That’s the headline, because everything else about this one was messy. The Wildcats were out-rebounded 32-20 overall, got beaten 8-1 on the offensive glass, and even lost the defensive rebounding battle 24-19.
Northern Arizona hit 13 threes, Kentucky only got to the line six times, and the Lumberjacks still had a real shot to steal it late. They also made five of their last seven shots.
And yet, Alex Wilkins bailed Kentucky out with the shot that mattered most. His three-pointer with just over two seconds left finished the job and turned a near-collapse into a win the Wildcats will gladly take and probably want to forget.
Wilkins was the clear MVP. Period. He hit the game-winner with 2.1 seconds left, and that was enough to send Kentucky into the next game with the kind of relief that usually comes after a narrow escape, not a celebration.
The first half had enough warning signs to make you wonder whether Kentucky was in for a long night. Northern Arizona jumped out to a 7-2 lead before Ousmane N’Diaye and Zoom Diallo answered with back-to-back threes. Kentucky briefly moved in front, but the shooting never really settled in early, and Milan Momcilovic missed his first two attempts from deep in the opening 8:03.
Still, the Wildcats found some rhythm through N’Diaye and Diallo, then widened the gap when Wilkins sparked a 4-point burst that included a steal and a thunderous dunk. That pushed Kentucky ahead 33-23 with under four minutes left in the half. Momcilovic then chipped in with two three-pointers, while Malachi Moreno did damage inside with eight points as Kentucky took a 45-37 lead into halftime.
Even then, Northern Arizona had already shown its teeth from long range. Chris Komin buried four threes in the first half and finished the opening 20 minutes with 16 points, keeping the Lumberjacks close enough to believe.
The second half only got stranger.
Northern Arizona came out swinging again and quickly turned the game into a one-point battle, then a one-possession game, then a full-blown problem for Kentucky. The Wildcats went more than five minutes to start the half without scoring, missing four straight shots while the Lumberjacks ripped off an 11-0 run and briefly took a 51-49 lead.
Wilkins finally stopped the skid with a three to put Kentucky back in front, but Northern Arizona answered right away. The lead kept changing hands, and the Wildcats never quite got control. A Momcilovic three trimmed the gap, but Kentucky still trailed 60-57 with 7:41 left.
Wilkins and Moreno helped Kentucky claw back ahead at 63-62, though foul trouble started to tighten the screws. Wilkins picked up his fourth with 4:55 remaining, and Diallo was also sitting on four. Justin McBride’s three gave Kentucky a 66-64 lead, but Northern Arizona answered with back-to-back threes to go up 70-68 at the under-four timeout.
Then came the sequence that nearly buried Kentucky. Lucas Toukam soared for a putback dunk after a missed three, pushing Northern Arizona ahead 72-68.
Mason Williams cut it to 72-70, Chris Komin answered, and Momcilovic’s and-one made it 74-73. Northern Arizona then landed another punch when Cade Bennett drilled a three to make it 77-73 with less than 20 seconds left.
Williams kept Kentucky alive with a long two to make it 77-75 with 13.9 seconds remaining. Max Marjele missed a free throw on the next trip, and Moreno lost the ball at point-blank range while going for the rebound. With 9.9 seconds left, it looked like Kentucky had blown its chance.
But Northern Arizona missed again from the line, Komin came up empty, and Wilkins stepped into the moment at the other end. His three with 2.2 seconds left gave Kentucky the lead for good at 78-77.
Somehow, the Wildcats escaped.
In Other News...
Floridas Latest Availability Shift Could Matter For Kentucky Saturday
The SECs new weekly availability reports are already adding another layer to Saturdays Kentucky-Florida matchup, and Kentuckys side of the ledger stayed steady when the latest update came out. The Wildcats did not list any changes from the previous report, with several players still sidelined because of long-term injuries, so their preparation for the game in Gainesville remains centered more on who is available than on any late-breaking surprises.
Florida, though, made a notable adjustment by adding defensive back Dijon Johnson as doubtful, a development that could matter in a game where every healthy body in the secondary counts. The Gators already had multiple players sitting in the out, doubtful or questionable categories, so the latest shift only deepens the uncertainty around their roster heading into a matchup that could hinge on how much depth each side has left by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Gets An Early Test After Kansas Exposed A Real Concern
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Northern Arizona brings the next chance to respond, and it arrives with its own bruises after a 90-59 loss to No. 12 Arizona. The Lumberjacks coach has stressed the need to keep confidence intact through a rough stretch, which makes this a useful early measuring stick for Kentucky as much as a tune-up. Pope called the Kansas game a learning experience, and now the Wildcats get a shot to show how fast that lesson can turn into progress. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Defense Faces An Uncomfortable Brad White Comparison
Kentuckys defense has become the kind of unit that invites comparison to the one Brad White built, and not always in flattering ways. Under Jay Bateman, the Wildcats have shown some of the same baseline sturdiness that defined Whites tenure, but the broader picture has been less steady when it comes to points allowed, total defense and the ability to create turnovers. The numbers are close enough to make the conversation unavoidable, especially for a program that has long leaned on defense as its identity.
The uncomfortable part is where the current group has been more vulnerable, particularly on third downs and against the pass, two areas that can expose even a respectable front seven. Kentuckys offense has also had to keep adjusting, including changes at quarterback, which only adds pressure on a defense that is being measured against a recent standard. For now, the comparison says as much about expectations as it does about performance, and it leaves the Wildcats trying to prove they can match the old formula without looking like a step behind it. [Read more 🡒]