Alex Wilkins sank a 3-pointer from the right elbow with 2.2 seconds remaining to deliver a 78-77 victory for No. 24 Kentucky over Northern Arizona at Rupp Arena on Friday night.
The Wildcats were trailing late in the game when Wilkins, who had been relatively quiet until that moment, stepped up to take the final shot. His clutch basket wiped out Northern Arizona’s lead and left the home crowd stunned but ecstatic.
The game had been tightly contested throughout, with Northern Arizona pushing Kentucky hard. The Wildcats’ narrow escape prevented what would have been a significant upset loss early in the season.
Wilkins’ shot was captured and shared widely on social media, with The Field of 68 tweeting that “Alex Wilkins might have just saved Kentucky’s season.” The comment reflected the sense that the victory was critical in maintaining Kentucky’s momentum and confidence.
The atmosphere at Rupp Arena was tense in the final moments. Northern Arizona had fought back after falling behind and seemed poised to pull off the upset. Kentucky’s ability to respond under pressure came down to Wilkins’ precise timing and shooting.
No additional details about the flow of the game, individual performances, or coaching decisions have been released so far. The Wildcats will look to build on this narrow win as they continue their schedule.
This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
According to Yahoo Sports.
