No. 4 Kentucky bounced back in dramatic fashion, defeating No. 7 Gonzaga 90-89 in overtime. Jaxson Robinson’s clutch floater with seconds remaining proved decisive, as Gonzaga’s Nolan Hickman’s late three-pointer fell short of completing the comeback.
JAXSON ROBINSON. CLUTCH.
(via @espn)
pic.twitter.com/43lChk7heM— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 8, 2024
Gonzaga dominated the first half, racing to a 50-34 lead behind Graham Ike’s 18 points, but Kentucky stormed back with a relentless second-half effort. Andrew Carr sparked the Wildcats, scoring 19 points, including key baskets in the final minutes of regulation and overtime. Kentucky’s defense tightened in the second half, holding the Bulldogs to 39.3% shooting after the break.
In overtime, the Wildcats leaned on their inside presence, scoring all 11 points in the paint. Amari Williams’ dunks and timely assists from Kerr Kriisa kept Kentucky ahead, despite Gonzaga’s late barrage of threes. Ike finished with a game-high 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs, while Ryan Nembhard dished out 10 assists in a losing effort.
The win marked Kentucky’s second triumph over a top-10 opponent this season and showcased its resilience following an upset loss to Clemson earlier in the week. The Wildcats improve to 8-1 and will look to build on momentum as they return to SEC play.
