Alex Wilkins' Late 3-Pointer Saves No. 24 Kentucky in Narrow Win Over Northern Arizona
No. 24 Kentucky narrowly avoided a major home upset on Friday, defeating Northern Arizona 78-77 after transfer guard Alex Wilkins hit a game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left.
🧠AI AnalysisPhoto: The Athletic
Key points
- Alex Wilkins sank a game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left to give No. 24 Kentucky a 78-77 win.
- Kentucky was a heavy 33.5-point favorite against Northern Arizona at Rupp Arena.
- Wilkins finished with 14 points as Kentucky avoided an upset against a team ranked No. 299 in KenPom.
No. 24 Kentucky narrowly escaped a home upset on Friday night, securing a 78-77 victory over Northern Arizona at Rupp Arena thanks to a clutch late shot. Transfer guard Alex Wilkins hit a game-winning 3-pointer with just two seconds remaining on the clock to rescue the Wildcats, who entered the matchup as 33.5-point favorites.
Wilkins finished the game with 14 points, delivering his most critical basket when Kentucky trailed in the final moments. The close contest came despite a significant pre-game gap between the two programs; Kentucky ranked No. 36 in KenPom ratings, whereas Northern Arizona stood at No. 299 among 365 Division I teams. The Lumberjacks entered the season coming off a 10-22 record last year, including a 4-14 last-place finish in the Big Sky Conference, where they were picked to finish last once again this preseason.
The tight victory allows Kentucky to avoid an early-season blot on its resume, though the near-disaster highlights key areas of improvement needed for the roster. What to watch next: Kentucky will seek to tighten its defense and build more consistent offensive rhythm in its upcoming non-conference slate.
Source The Athletic — nytimes.com/athletic/7780562/2026/11/13/kentucky-basketball-norther… ↗
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