Clemson Outlasts Kentucky in Back and Forth Game

Otega Oweh had 17 points and seven rebounds, but No. 4 Kentucky suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday, falling at Clemson 70-66.

Lamont Butler had 16 points and five assists for the Cats, while Jaxson Robinson had 12 points for UK.

Kentucky (7-1) scored first on a Robinson three. After Clemson got a pair of free throws, Butler drove the lane, scored and was fouled. He made the free throw to make it 6-2 early.

With Kentucky leading 7-5, the Cats scored four in a row to lead 11-5. However, Clemson scored the next seven to lead for the first time, 12-11. However, a Koby Brea three would give UK the lead back, 14-12, with 13:11 left in the first half. Andrew Carr hit a three to make it 17-12, but Clemson quickly answered with a three of its own, and it was 17-15.

A pair of Oweh free throws gave UK a 19-15 lead but Clemson scored the next eight points to lead 23-19, but UK answered with a run of its own. A Robinson three, a Butler layup, an Oweh steal and dunk and an Oweh jumper comprised a 9-0 Kentucky run that gave the Cats a 28-23 lead with 5:45 to play in the half.

Clemson (8-1) would respond by scoring the next 10 points to lead 33-28 before UK got a layup from Ansley Almonor. However, Clemson scored the last four points of the half and the Tigers led 37-30 at the half.

In the second half, Kentucky got the scoring started on an Oweh three. After a Clemson basket, UK got an Amari Williams layup, followed by a fast break layup from Oweh, making it 39-37. After a Clemson three, the Cats got a Brandon Garrison layup on a lob from Butler, cutting the deficit to 42-39.

Another Oweh basket got UK within one and a Williams basket gave the Cats a 43-42 advantage. After a pair of Tigers’ free throws, Robinson hit a basket to give Kentucky a 45-44 lead. But again, Clemson came right back with a score to lead 46-45.

The back-and-forth continued as Butler scored at the basket to give UK a 47-46 lead. Clemson would get a banked-in three to lead 49-47. Carr tied the game with pair of free throws but the Tigers answered with a basket to lead 51-49. However, Butler hit a three and UK took the lead back, 52-51 with 10:57 remaining.

Clemson scored the next five points to lead 56-52 before Oweh hit a pair of free throws to make it 56-54 with 8:13 remaining. However, Clemson scored the next five to take a 61-54 advantage. Williams converted in the post to get the Cats within five, then Robinson scored on a putback to cut the deficit to 61-58 with 5:25 to play.

The Tigers would respond again, netting the next five points to lead 66-58. A Robinson layup cut the UK deficit to 66-60. A Williams basket at the rim got the Cats within four, 66-62. Clemson hit a pair of free throws to make it 68-62. A Butler free throw, and later a three, made it 68-66 with two seconds remaining. The Tigers hit two free throws to provide the final margin of victory.

Some additional notes from the game:

• UK held Clemson to 24-65 shooting (32%). Kentucky has held seven of its eight opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field this season
• The contest featured four ties and 13 lead changes
• The rebounding matchup finished dead even with each
squad grabbing 44 total rebounds – 29 on the defensive end and 15 offensive boards
• UK had a 13-10 edge in second chance points and won the points in the paint battle, 30-26