Aggies turn in 2nd upset of SEC quarterfinals, downing No. 9 Kentucky 97-87
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Texas A&M Aggies improved their candidacy for the NCAA Tournament at Kentucky's expense, and coach John Calipari got another reminder that his Wildcats must defend better to finish this season in a winning fashion.
Wade Taylor IV scored 32 points as Texas A&M upset ninth-ranked Kentucky 97-87 Friday night for the second biggest upset of the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
“He just has an elite level IQ off the floor," Aggies coach Buzz Williams said of Taylor. "But he has just as high of an IQ as a player. And he understands time scoring momentum arguably as well as anybody I’ve ever been around. He obviously has the ability to score, but he kind of has a vibe for, ‘Should I score? Should I shoot?’”
Calipari noted Texas A&M's eighth Quad 1 win, saying the Aggies are fine for an NCAA berth. Williams wouldn't answer when asked about that prediction.
The seventh-seeded Aggies won their fifth straight to reach Saturday's semifinals for the third time since joining the SEC and second in three seasons. The Aggies, who lost the final in 2016 and 2022, will play Florida, a 102-88 winner over No. 19 Alabama as the SEC's top three seeds all lost their openers Friday.
Texas A&M lost the 2022 title game to Tennessee, the regular season champs who were ousted in Friday's first game by Mississippi State.
Tyrece Radford added 23 points, Manny Obaseki had 17 and Solomon Washington 11 for Texas A&M (20-13). The Aggies beat Kentucky for the second time after needing overtime on Jan. 13.
Not Friday night.
The loss snapped Kentucky's five-game winning streak that had been the SEC's longest coming into this tournament. Now the Wildcats (23-9), whose 31 titles have set such a standard this event is often called the Kentucky Invitational, are going home still looking for their first tournament championship since 2018.
Calipari said his Wildcats didn't pass the ball the way they had been doing during their streak.
“When the ball stops, we’re not the same team,” Calipari said. “Go 1-on-5, you can’t make a play that way. We haven’t for weeks. Today we kind of did. ... But they deserved that game the way they played. Again, I mean, we give up 97. How many games you going to win giving up 97 points?”
Antonio Reeves, Kentucky's leading scorer averaging 22.2 points, was limited to 18 minutes before fouling out and finishing with 13 points. Rob Dillingham led Kentucky with 27 points, and Reed Sheppard added 14.
The Aggies jumped out with eight of the first nine points to help quiet the Kentucky faithful that filled much of Bridgestone Arena. Then they kept knocking down 3s, shooting better outside the arc than inside.
Taylor led the way in a game that felt much more like a tennis match with both teams sprinting up and down the court. Texas A&M led 48-42 at halftime.
Kentucky last led when Sheppard finished off a steal with a fast-break layup for a 16-15 edge at 13:15. Washington answered with a 3, and the Aggies never trailed again.
BIG PICTURE
Texas A&M: The Aggies scored a season-high in points in regulation. The SEC's best at protecting the ball did it again. They had a 6-14 edge in turnovers that they turned into an 18-4 scoring advantage. The Aggies now are 13-2 when having nine or fewer turnovers. ... They also had a 26-9 edge in second-chance points.
Kentucky: The Wildcats fell to 46-13 in quarterfinals and 135-30 all-time. ... Tre Mitchell also fouled out.
UP NEXT
The Aggies play Florida in the semifinals on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Wildens Leveque vs. Ugonna Onyenso (D.J. Wagner gains possession) | |||
19:38 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
19:36 | Ugonna Onyenso offensive rebound | |||
19:29 | Solomon Washington shooting foul (Antonio Reeves draws the foul) | |||
19:29 | +1 | Antonio Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-1 | |
19:29 | Antonio Reeves misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
19:29 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
19:13 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Manny Obaseki's two point layup | |||
19:11 | Wildens Leveque offensive rebound | |||
18:58 | +3 | Manny Obaseki makes three point jump shot (Wade Taylor IV assists) | 3-1 | |
18:51 | Antonio Reeves misses three point jump shot | |||
18:49 | Wildens Leveque defensive rebound | |||
18:44 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot | 6-1 | |
18:30 | Justin Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Solomon Washington steals) | |||
18:22 | +2 | Wade Taylor IV makes two point layup | 8-1 | |
18:21 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
18:12 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
18:10 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
17:55 | D.J. Wagner misses two point jump shot | |||
17:53 | Andersson Garcia defensive rebound | |||
17:41 | Ugonna Onyenso blocks Andersson Garcia's two point layup | |||
17:39 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
17:21 | +3 | Antonio Reeves makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 8-4 | |
17:04 | Adou Thiero blocks Solomon Washington's two point jump shot | |||
17:02 | Aggies offensive rebound | |||
16:58 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot (Andersson Garcia assists) | 11-4 | |
16:47 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Antonio Reeves assists) | 11-7 | |
16:30 | +3 | Tyrece Radford makes three point jump shot (Solomon Washington assists) | 14-7 | |
16:16 | Manny Obaseki shooting foul (Adou Thiero draws the foul) | |||
16:16 | +1 | Adou Thiero makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-8 | |
16:16 | Adou Thiero misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
16:16 | Andersson Garcia defensive rebound | |||
15:54 | Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot | |||
15:52 | Andersson Garcia offensive rebound | |||
15:49 | Jace Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
15:47 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
15:45 | TV timeout | |||
15:33 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point layup | 14-10 | |
15:22 | Rob Dillingham personal foul (Wade Taylor IV draws the foul) | |||
15:11 | Zvonimir Ivisic shooting foul (Andersson Garcia draws the foul) | |||
15:11 | +1 | Andersson Garcia makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-10 | |
15:11 | Andersson Garcia misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
15:11 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
14:59 | Andersson Garcia personal foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul) | |||
14:56 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
14:54 | Henry Coleman III defensive rebound | |||
14:54 | Tre Mitchell personal foul (Henry Coleman III draws the foul) | |||
14:43 | Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot | |||
14:41 | Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound | |||
14:33 | +2 | Antonio Reeves makes two point jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 15-12 | |
14:19 | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Tyrece Radford's two point layup | |||
14:17 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
13:57 | Zvonimir Ivisic turnover (lost ball) (Henry Coleman III steals) | |||
13:49 | Wade Taylor IV turnover (bad pass) (Reed Sheppard steals) | |||
13:43 | +2 | Reed Sheppard makes two point layup | 15-14 | |
13:28 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
13:26 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
13:16 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point layup (Rob Dillingham assists) | 15-16 | |
13:07 | Aggies 30 second timeout | |||
12:57 | +3 | Solomon Washington makes three point jump shot (Wade Taylor IV assists) | 18-16 | |
12:39 | Antonio Reeves offensive foul (Solomon Washington draws the foul) | |||
12:39 | Antonio Reeves turnover (offensive foul) | |||
12:28 | +2 | Manny Obaseki makes two point layup | 20-16 | |
12:13 | Hayden Hefner personal foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
12:06 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) (Manny Obaseki steals) | |||
12:00 | Tyrece Radford misses three point jump shot | |||
11:58 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
11:53 | Rob Dillingham misses two point layup | |||
11:51 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
11:47 | Tyrece Radford misses two point layup | |||
11:45 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
11:37 | D.J. Wagner offensive foul (Andersson Garcia draws the foul) | |||
11:37 | D.J. Wagner turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:37 | TV timeout | |||
11:21 | Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Manny Obaseki's two point jump shot | |||
11:19 | Andersson Garcia offensive rebound | |||
11:11 | Justin Edwards shooting foul (Tyrece Radford draws the foul) | |||
11:11 | +1 | Tyrece Radford makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-16 | |
11:11 | +1 | Tyrece Radford makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-16 | |
10:53 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Justin Edwards assists) | 22-19 | |
10:36 | Aaron Bradshaw blocks Solomon Washington's two point jump shot | |||
10:34 | Hayden Hefner offensive rebound | |||
10:26 | +2 | Hayden Hefner makes two point layup | 24-19 | |
10:22 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (D.J. Wagner assists) | 24-22 | |
10:09 | Tyrece Radford misses two point jump shot | |||
10:07 | Andersson Garcia offensive rebound | |||
10:03 | Jump ball. Andersson Garcia vs. Reed Sheppard (Andersson Garcia gains possession) | |||
9:51 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot (Tyrece Radford assists) | 27-22 | |
9:30 | Justin Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
9:28 | Adou Thiero offensive rebound | |||
9:20 | Adou Thiero misses two point layup | |||
9:18 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
9:15 | Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot | |||
9:13 | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | |||
9:07 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
9:05 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
9:00 | +2 | Wade Taylor IV makes two point layup | 29-22 | |
8:41 | +3 | D.J. Wagner makes three point jump shot (Justin Edwards assists) | 29-25 | |
8:18 | Wade Taylor IV turnover (bad pass) (D.J. Wagner steals) | |||
8:00 | Justin Edwards misses two point layup | |||
7:58 | Henry Coleman III defensive rebound | |||
7:53 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point layup (Manny Obaseki assists) | 31-25 | |
7:31 | +2 | Reed Sheppard makes two point jump shot | 31-27 | |
7:15 | +2 | Wade Taylor IV makes two point layup | 33-27 | |
7:01 | Tyrece Radford personal foul (Ugonna Onyenso draws the foul) | |||
7:01 | TV timeout | |||
6:59 | Reed Sheppard turnover (lost ball) (Tyrece Radford steals) | |||
6:56 | Reed Sheppard personal foul (Tyrece Radford draws the foul) | |||
6:56 | +1 | Tyrece Radford makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-27 | |
6:56 | +1 | Tyrece Radford makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-27 | |
6:50 | Reed Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (Manny Obaseki steals) | |||
6:43 | +2 | Solomon Washington makes two point layup (Tyrece Radford assists) | 37-27 | |
6:32 | Tre Mitchell turnover (lost ball) (Solomon Washington steals) | |||
6:22 | Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot | |||
6:20 | Tre Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
6:12 | +2 | Ugonna Onyenso makes two point dunk (Rob Dillingham assists) | 37-29 | |
5:44 | Manny Obaseki misses two point jump shot | |||
5:41 | Antonio Reeves personal foul (Tyrece Radford draws the foul) | |||
5:41 | Tyrece Radford misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
5:41 | Adou Thiero defensive rebound | |||
5:33 | +3 | Reed Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Rob Dillingham assists) | 37-32 | |
5:15 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
5:13 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
5:08 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point jump shot | 37-34 | |
4:48 | +3 | Solomon Washington makes three point jump shot (Tyrece Radford assists) | 40-34 | |
4:36 | Rob Dillingham misses three point jump shot | |||
4:34 | Wade Taylor IV defensive rebound | |||
4:16 | Adou Thiero blocks Manny Obaseki's two point layup | |||
4:14 | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | |||
4:10 | Solomon Washington blocks Adou Thiero's two point layup | |||
4:08 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
4:00 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot (Tyrece Radford assists) | 43-34 | |
3:43 | Ugonna Onyenso misses two point layup | |||
3:41 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
3:13 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point jump shot | 45-34 | |
3:02 | +2 | D.J. Wagner makes two point layup | 45-36 | |
3:02 | Andersson Garcia shooting foul (D.J. Wagner draws the foul) | |||
3:02 | TV timeout | |||
3:02 | +1 | D.J. Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 45-37 | |
2:45 | Justin Edwards personal foul (Tyrece Radford draws the foul) | |||
2:45 | +1 | Tyrece Radford makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-37 | |
2:45 | Tyrece Radford misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:45 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
2:36 | +2 | Rob Dillingham makes two point layup | 46-39 | |
2:16 | Adou Thiero shooting foul (Manny Obaseki draws the foul) | |||
2:16 | Manny Obaseki misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:16 | +1 | Manny Obaseki makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-39 | |
1:58 | Reed Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
1:56 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
1:41 | Solomon Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
1:39 | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
1:35 | Wade Taylor IV shooting foul (Reed Sheppard draws the foul) | |||
1:35 | +1 | Reed Sheppard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-40 | |
1:35 | Reed Sheppard misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:35 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
1:08 | Tyrece Radford misses two point layup | |||
1:06 | D.J. Wagner defensive rebound | |||
0:53 | D.J. Wagner misses two point layup | |||
0:51 | Solomon Washington defensive rebound | |||
0:51 | Adou Thiero personal foul (Solomon Washington draws the foul) | |||
0:51 | Solomon Washington misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:51 | +1 | Solomon Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-40 | |
0:27 | Solomon Washington shooting foul (Rob Dillingham draws the foul) | |||
0:27 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-41 | |
0:27 | +1 | Rob Dillingham makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-42 | |
0:12 | Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot | |||
0:10 | Rob Dillingham defensive rebound | |||
0:02 | D.J. Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Tyrece Radford defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |