LEXINGTON, Ky. (WAVE) – The Louisville Cardinals closed the gap late, but No. 5 Kentucky had one last surge to widen the gap and come away with a 93-85 win in Saturday night’s rivalry game.
“Yeah, it is a great, great rivalry,” said head coach Pat Kelsey. “I said it the other day in a press conference. Not only in collegiate basketball but it is one of the really cool rivals in all of American sports. We have to do our part and win some to continue to make that a rivalry. Obviously, we came up short tonight but it’s hard to truly describe I think at Kentucky but especially our city of Louisville and here in Lexington how much this rivalry means. Houses divided but man I mean they reminded me early and often and every single day. Every time I go get gas, I go get something to eat in the community, you know ‘Hey coach how are you doing? Are you going to beat Kentucky this year?’ So I get it. I get it and what a great thing it was. It was awesome. You have to sometimes get above the trees and have a little bit of perspective of what you are doing and where you are at. I try to stay present every single day keep blinders on to work and help our team to do the best they can be.”
UK took the lead early and never relinquished it, leading for all but 38 seconds of the game, but the Cards hung around all game, with the Cats’ lead never getting larger than 12 midway through the first half. The Cards’ only lead of the game came less than a minute in when Chucky Hepburn nailed a three to put UofL up 3-2, which Jaxson Robinson erased 10 seconds later to give the Cats the lead for good…