by Brian Dulik, Associated Press
CLEVELAND—Armando Bacot scored 11 of his team-high 14 points in the second half Saturday, rallying No. 22 North Carolina from a double-digit deficit to beat Kentucky 75-63 at the CBS Sports Classic.
Kentucky (1-5) has lost five in a row for the first time since John Calipari became coach in 2009.
Kerwin Walton scored 13 points and fellow freshman guard Caleb Love had 11 points and six assists for the Tar Heels (5-2), who outscored the Wildcats 33-15 to end the game.
Kentucky’s Davion Mintz scored 17 points — making all three of the Wildcats’ 3-pointers — and grabbed eight rebounds.
Walton scored eight points in a 9-1 game-changing run by the Tar Heels, including the go-ahead free throw at 50-49 with 11:42 remaining. North Carolina had trailed by 11 in the first half.
Walton made a pair of 3-pointers immediately after Kentucky big men Olivier Sarr and Lance Ware went to the bench with their fourth fouls. Sarr, Ware and teammates Isaiah Jackson and Terrence Clarke later fouled out.
North Carolina extended its lead to 61-54 on a putback slam by Garrison Brooks with 5:33 left, then extended the lead to 73-61 with two Love free throws. Brooks and Day’Ron Sharpe finished with 11 points for the Tar Heels.
Wildcats freshman forward Brandon Boston Jr. scored 15 points and freshman guard Devin Askew had 12.
North Carolina was initially scheduled to play No. 20 Ohio State, while Kentucky was paired with UCLA. The matchups were changed Wednesday by promoter Intersport to align the opponents with the most similar COVID-19 testing protocols.
No fans were permitted to attend either game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, which hosted the annual event for the first time.
BIG PICTURE
North Carolina: The Tar Heels are 0-2 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25, losing 69-67 to No. 11 Texas (in Asheville, North Carolina) and 93-80 at No. 3 Iowa in back-to-back contests. … North Carolina has completed its nonleague schedule and will play its next 20 games in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Kentucky: The Wildcats opened with an 81-45 home win over Morehead State on Nov. 25, but lost their next four games by 33 total points. … Kentucky has one scholarship player who saw action in 2019-2020. Sophomore F Keion Brooks Jr. (calf strain), who made six starts, has yet to play this season.
UP NEXT
North Carolina: Plays at North Carolina State in its ACC opener Dec. 22.
Kentucky: Renews its state rivalry at No. 23 Louisville in a nonconference game Dec. 26.
Print Friendly Version
Podcasts/Media
-
Podcast
/ 18 hours agoBleav in Carolina Panthers – The One With the Saints Victory Monday – Mon Nov 4th 2024
Hosted by Tobacco Road Sports Radio’s Desmond Johnson and Panthers All Time Leading Rusher...
-
Podcast
/ 5 days agoBleav in Panthers – The One Where Reality Sets In – Tues Oct 29th 2024
Hosted by Tobacco Road Sports Radio’s Desmond Johnson, Sports Illustrated Panthers Beat Writer Schuyler...
-
Podcast
/ 6 days agoThe Nest with East Forsyth HC Todd Willert – Season 6 Ep 12 – Tues Oct 29th 2024
Hosted by Rod Funderburk, recorded live from J Peppers every Tuesday in season. East...
-
NFL
/ 7 days agoWinning The Division – Ep 10 – Tues Oct 29th 2024
Co Hosts Ryan Smith and Ben Troupe breakdown week 8 of the NFL season...
ACC Football
-
ACC Football
/ 2 days agoWolfpack Takes Down Stanford 59-28
RALEIGH, NC – The Wolfpack made homecoming one to remember as NC State picked up...
-
ACC Football
/ 2 days agoDuke Falls at No. 5 Miami, 53-31
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Duke led No. 5 Miami 28-17 in the third quarter, but...
-
ACC Football
/ 2 days agoCarolina Smothers Seminoles, 35-11
Courtesy GoHeels.com by Daniel Forcella TALLAHASSEE, FLA. –Omarion Hampton amassed a career-high 265 all-purpose yards...
-
ACC Football
/ 5 days agoJoel Klatt breaks down ACC teams still alive in College Football Playoff race
Published by On3 Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt recently went conference-by-conference and...
NFL/Carolina Panthers
-
NFL
/ 5 days agoJonathon Brooks injury update: Dave Canales addresses chances of Panthers RB making debut vs. Saints
Published by On3 The Carolina Panthers are anxiously awaiting the debut of rookie running...
-
NFL
/ 5 days agoPanthers HC Daves Canales reveals starting QB between Bryce Young, Andy Dalton vs. Saints
Published by On3 Carolina Panthers (1-7) head coach Dave Canales announced Wednesday that Bryce...
-
NFL
/ 7 days agoWinning The Division – Ep 10 – Tues Oct 29th 2024
Co Hosts Ryan Smith and Ben Troupe breakdown week 8 of the NFL season...
-
NFL
/ 7 days agoAdam Schefter names Diontae Johnson, Za’Darius Smith as potential trade deadline targets
Published by On3 Adam Schefter provided some insight into which players could be on...