Nick Richards hit two free throws with 10.3 seconds remaining in overtime, and No. 15 Kentucky forced a turnover on Texas Tech's last possession for a 76-74 victory Saturday night in a raucous atmosphere during the Big 12/SEC Challenge at Lubbock, Texas.
Richards led the Wildcats (15-4) with 25 points and 14 rebounds, making five free throws in overtime. Immanuel Quickley added 21 points for Kentucky in its third consecutive victory.
No. 18 Texas Tech (12-7) got 18 points from Kyler Edwards and 15 from Davide Moretti. The Red Raiders came back from a 10-point deficit in the second half to force overtime in one of the marquee matchups of the annual cross-conference challenge.
The Wildcats scored the first five points of overtime and took a 72-66 lead on Nate Sestina's 3-pointer at the 3:19 mark. Terrence Shannon Jr. knocked down four free throws for Texas Tech to tie it at 72 with 1:13 left.
In regulation, a Richards 3-pointer with 6:18 to play gave Kentucky a 61-53 lead. But the Red Raiders rallied, and two Moretti free throws tied it at 63 with 2:40 remaining. Neither team scored for more than two minutes down the stretch, until Richards made a free throw for a 64-63 Wildcats lead with 28.7 seconds remaining.
Moretti tied it at 64 with 1 of 2 free throws with 18.4 seconds remaining, and the game went into overtime.
The first half ended with Quickley making a shot from just inside half court at the buzzer, giving Kentucky a 36-34 lead in a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes.
Kentucky shot 43.6 percent from the field in the game and 46.7 from 3-point range. Texas Tech shot 42.2 percent from the field and just 15.8 percent (3 of 19) from 3-point range.
The Wildcats won despite committing 20 turnovers to 13 for the Red Raiders. Kentucky improved to 275-7 when leading by 10 or more points in a game under head coach John Calipari.
--Field Level Media
Kentucky | Texas Tech | |
Nick Richards 25 | Scoring | Kyler Edwards 18 |
Ashton Hagans 7 | Assists | Chris Clarke 5 |
Nick Richards 14 | Rebounds | TJ Holyfield 8 |
Nick Richards 11 | Free Throws Made | Davide Moretti 6 |
Ashton Hagans 3 | Steals | Davide Moretti 2 |
Nick Richards 4 | Blocks | Chris Clarke 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Kentucky | 76 | 43.6 | 7-15 | 21-25 | 12 | 35 | 6 | 6 | 20 |
Texas Tech | 74 | 42.2 | 3-19 | 17-23 | 14 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 13 |