Auburn snaps 18-game losing streak against No. 14 Kentucky
Two guards were all over the place Saturday making plays for their respective teams as Auburn upset No. 14 Kentucky 75-70 earning its first win against the Wildcats since 2000.
While Tyler Ulis’ near-triple-double was wonderful to watch in an otherwise forgettable game for Ketucky, Kareem Canty’s 26 points for the underdogs were just as impressive and maybe even moreso because he promised to produce the day before.
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Canty grew up in Harlem, N.Y. and first attended Marshall University before transferring to Auburn because he wanted the opportunity to play against players and programs of Kentucky’s ilk. When finally put in position to take advantage of that opportunity Saturday, he took full advantage as the spark plug powering the upset that led to Auburn students storming the court.
For Auburn star Kareem Canty, today is a dream come true. pic.twitter.com/79UPbvOiE9
— KSTV (@KSTV_Sports) January 16, 2016
Canty made four of his five 3-pointers in the second half helping to keep the Wildcats at bay. He hit two clutch free throws and played the final moments on a sprained ankle hurt while driving to the basket. Canty was nearly as efficient as his teammate, Tyler Harris, who scored 21 points on 11 shots. Canty needed 20 shots to get his 26 points.
[Fight in handshake line overshadows Monmouth’s win over Iona]
Jamal Murray scored 20 to lead Kentucky in its third road loss in four tries this season, but Ulis was the playmaker for the Wildcats and he nearly did enough to leave the Tigers and their fans tormented once again. Instead Kentucky is left to rebound from what is certainly the low point of its season and the lowest point in the regular season since losing at LSU two years ago.
Ulis went cold at the wrong time and none of his teammates picked up the slack. He went 2-for-7 in the final four minutes. Murray’s 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining was the only other scoring for Kentucky in those final four minutes.
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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo
