The No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats narrowly avoided an upset on Friday, securing a 78-77 victory over Northern Arizona at Rupp Arena.
The win improved Kentucky to a 3-1 record, as reported by ClutchPoints.
Alex Wilkins provided the decisive moment when he drilled a three-pointer with only 2.1 seconds remaining on the game clock.
Kentucky had previously held a 13-point lead before the unranked Lumberjacks mounted a significant comeback, according to ClutchPoints.
The Wildcats shot 56% from the field and relied heavily on a transition attack that generated 21 fast-break points.
Malachi Moreno paced the team with 14 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three blocks, while Wilkins and Milan Momcilovic also contributed 14 points each.
Despite the win, head coach Mark Pope acknowledged the team is still searching for consistency.
During the postgame news conference, Pope stated, “I hope everybody at Rupp had fun.”
He added that the matchup was an exciting, if not perfectly executed, contest for the spectators in attendance.
“It’s pretty entertaining, if not well-executed,” Pope noted in comments shared by ClutchPoints.
The Lumberjacks, who remain winless after four games, were led by Chris Komin, who recorded 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Northern Arizona struggled from the free-throw line, missing several attempts that ultimately proved costly in the one-point defeat.
The game served as a reminder that the Wildcats are still working to settle the ship, according to the head coach.
Kentucky is scheduled to return to the court on Monday to face Grambling.
The narrow margin of victory has already drawn scrutiny from observers, including former player Jamal Mashburn, who criticized the team’s performance, as noted in reporting by ClutchPoints.
Pope remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory despite the close call against an unranked opponent.
He emphasized that the current squad is finding ways to win games as they continue to develop their identity early in the season.