Saint Peter’s shocks No. 2 seed Kentucky 85-79 in OT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Saint Peter’s acted prefer it had been there earlier than.

After the Fifteenth-seeded Peacocks bounced storied Kentucky from the NCAA Event on Thursday evening, they calmly exchanged handshakes with the Wildcats earlier than heading over to the alternative sideline to have a good time with a small contingent of true believers.

The tiny Jesuit college from Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey, received 27 factors from Daryl Banks III because it took down basketball royalty, beating second-seeded Kentucky 85-79 in time beyond regulation and sending numerous brackets into the digital wastebasket.

“It was an incredible feeling,” Banks stated. “You develop up you watching March Insanity, the event, so to let that sink in — realizing the sport was over — it felt actually good.”

The Peacocks grew to become the tenth No. 15 seed to win a first-round recreation because the event expanded to 64 groups in 1985 and handed Kentucky its first opening-round loss underneath coach John Calipari.

“On the finish of the day, each staff that made it to the NCAA Event deserves to be right here. Each staff that made it to the NCAA Event believes they’ll advance. It’s about this evening,” Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway stated.

Saint Peter’s, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Convention champion, stored it shut all through and Banks’ two free throws with 1:45 left in time beyond regulation gave the Peacocks the lead for good. Doug Edert’s layup with 24 seconds left in regulation despatched the sport to time beyond regulation. He additionally made the ultimate two game-sealing free throws for the Peacocks and completed with 20 factors.

Saint Peter’s (20-11) strikes on to face both Murray State or San Francisco in Saturday’s second spherical within the East Area.

Not dangerous for a college with an enrollment of about 3,500 that’s made half as many NCAA Event appearances (4) as Kentucky has nationwide titles (eight). Kentucky had greater than 22,000 undergraduates on its 900-acre campus as of 2020 and has the second highest-paid coach in faculty hoops in Calipari (greater than $8 million per yr).

“It’s enormous,” Banks stated. “We’re placing Jersey Metropolis on the map. We come from Jersey, a small college, in all probability lots of people don’t even know who we’re.”

Oscar Tshiebwe had 30 factors and 16 rebounds for Kentucky (26-8) however his pair of missed free throws early in time beyond regulation was expensive, and the Wildcats lacked a dependable secondary scorer. TyTy Washington Jr. was held to 5 factors on 2-of-10 taking pictures.

The sport featured 16 ties and 13 lead modifications. Kentucky went forward 68-62 on Sahvir Wheeler’s driving layup with 4:12 remaining. Saint Peter’s adopted with seven unanswered factors, capped by Edert’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining. Kellan Grady put Kentucky again forward earlier than Edert compelled OT.

The Wildcats had their eyes set on a ninth title behind Tshiebwe, the 6-foot-9 ahead who’s a candidate for nationwide participant of the yr honors. And Kentucky was enjoying in entrance of a predominantly blue-clad crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a 2 1/2 hour drive from Lexington.

“It’s unhappy as a result of I’ve been wanting this second for a very long time,” Tshiebwe stated.

Banks set the tone all through, making all 4 3s for 16 first-half factors. He completed 9 of 19 from the sector and 5 of 8 from deep, with a loud response following most each huge shot. Teammates adopted go well with.

Edert made 5 of seven pictures together with each of his 3-point tries. Saint Peter’s completed 9 of 17 general from 3 and shot 29 of 57 general (50.9%). The Peacocks additionally stayed shut on the boards (35 to Kentucky’s 36) and made 18 of 21 from the road.

“It feels superb, really it feels superb,” Edert stated. “That they had an ideal crowd, lots of people. I don’t know in case you noticed it, however we had our personal little part over there, too.”

Kentucky was 26 of 61 (43%) general and 23 of 35 from the road. The Wildcats have been tentative at instances with the ball, hesitation that ended with compelled pictures. And it led to a second consecutive loss to shut the season.

“My entire factor this week, as a result of I knew that they had by no means performed on this stuff, was to get them free and unfastened and we by no means received to that time,” Calipari stated. “Even throughout timeouts, I used to be making an attempt to do this. … As a coach it’s your job to determine easy methods to end the sport and we didn’t do this.”

TURNING POINT

After Banks’ go-ahead free throws, Kentucky had two empty possessions. Wheeler’s turnover led to a layup by Drane. Then KC Ndefo blocked Keion Brooks Jr.’s layup try, and Banks made two extra free throws.

Washington sank a 3 to get Kentucky inside 81-79 earlier than Lee and Edert sealed it on the line.

BITTERSWEET MEMORIES

Earlier than taking up at Saint Peter’s, Holloway spent eight years as an assistant at his alma mater, Seton Corridor. He performed 4 years for the Pirates and skilled the highs and lows of the NCAA Event as a senior in 2000.

Holloway scored 27 factors and made the go-ahead basket with 1.9 seconds left in a first-round win over Oregon, however he was injured and performed solely eight minutes in a second-round win over Temple. He didn’t play when Seton Corridor was eradicated within the Candy 16 by Oklahoma State.

BIG PICTURE

Saint Peter’s: The Peacocks didn’t flinch towards their extra gifted foe, maintaining with and typically dictating the tempo. Banks’ perimeter taking pictures was enormous within the first half earlier than he got here up late within the recreation and in OT.

Kentucky: The Wildcats needed to work for practically each basket however succeeded at attending to the road. However they struggled shifting the ball and missed a number of key pictures that might have gained the sport. As an alternative, they’re going dwelling early a yr after lacking the event altogether.

UP NEXT

Saint Peter’s hopes to repeat Oral Roberts’ run to the Candy 16 as a No. 15 seed final yr.

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Extra AP protection of March Insanity: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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