LOUISVILLE, Ky., 20 December 2004 — Patrick Sparks sank three foul shots with 6/10ths of a second remaining in the game, lifting ninth-ranked Kentucky to a 60-58 come-from-behind win over No. 13 Louisville at Freedom Hall yesterday.
Sparks finished with a game-high 25 points for the Wildcats (7-1), who rebounded from a 16-point halftime deficit to squeak out the two-point win. The comeback was the most points Kentucky ever overcame at the half.
“I was just trying to knock them down,” Sparks said of his free throws down the stretch. “The win proved we have a lot of heart.”
The Wildcats, who got 12 points from Kelenna Azubuike, have won three straight since their only loss of the season to North Carolina on December 4. Kentucky also halted a two-game skid versus Louisville.
Larry O’Bannon paced the Cardinals (6-2) with 16 points. Juan Palacios chipped in 11 points for Louisville, which had its six-game winning streak stopped.
Taquan Dean knocked down a three-pointer early in the second half and the Cardinals claimed a 40-27 cushion. Kentucky eventually trimmed the lead to single digits at 46-38 thanks to consecutive baskets by Rajon Rondo with less than eight minutes to go.
The Wildcats continued to run and were down 48-44 later in the period courtesy of back-to-back three-pointers by Sparks. Dean, however, countered with consecutive threes and Louisville restored its double-digit lead at 54-44.
Sparks wasn’t done yet and answered with a trey and a three-point play in succession, pulling the Wildcats within 54-50 with 2:55 remaining in the game. Moments later, Ravi Moss buried a wide-open three and Kentucky trailed, 54-53.
With 1:27 on the clock, the Wildcats took their first lead since early in the first half at 55-54 on Azubuike’s foul shots. Francisco Garcia’s layup with 54.5 seconds left gave Louisville a one-point lead, but Azubuike’s basket seconds later put Kentucky back in front, 57-56.
O’Bannon then was sent to the line with 15.2 seconds left and the guard sank both shots for a 58-57 Louisville edge. With less than five seconds to go, Azubuike was triple-covered and passed to Sparks, who was fouled behind the three-point line with 6/10ths on the clock. He then made all three shots from the stripe to seal the two-point win.
Wake Forest Scrapes Win vs. Texas
In Winston-Salem, N.C. , Chris Paul scored 23 points and dished out 12 assists to lead sixth-ranked Wake Forest to an 89-88 win over No. 14 Texas at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
Eric Williams had 19 points and Justin Gray added 15 for the Demon Deacons (9-1), who have won four straight since their only loss of the season against top-ranked Illinois on December 1.
P.J. Tucker tied a career high with 27 points and 14 rebounds for Texas (7-2), which had its five-game winning streak halted. Brad Buckman chipped in 17 points and Kenny Taylor contributed 13 in a losing effort.
Paul buried a three-pointer late in the first half to stake Wake Forest to a 38-30 lead. The rest of the period was tight throughout with the Demon Deacons clinging to a 49-45 halftime advantage. Paul had 15 points at the break.
Wake Forest led by a 56-49 score after Vytas Danelius drained a three-pointer minutes into the second half. The Longhorns would make a run and eventually grabbed a 64-63 lead on a Jason Klotz jumper with 11 1?2 minutes left.
Taylor’s tip-in with about eight minutes on the clock staked Texas to a 76-71 advantage.
