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Vanderbilt registers back-to-back top-10 upsets at home with takedown of Kentucky
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Vanderbilt played giant-killer for the second straight Saturday in Nashville, this time taking out No. 9 Kentucky, 74-69, to set off a second straight court-storming moment at Memorial Gym.
Last Saturday, the Commodores outlasted No. 6 Tennessee, 76-75, and then stumbled on the road against No. 4 Alabama on Tuesday night, giving up 103 points in a 16-point loss. But then it was back to Nashville, where Vanderbilt has suddenly become magical against back-to-back SEC powerhouses.
Kentucky was the latest victim, with Tyler Nickel draining a right-corner 3-pointer with about 1:45 left to give Vandy (16-4, 4-3 SEC) the lead for good at 71-69. The Wildcats never scored again, and soon it was party time yet again in Nashville. Nickel had 11 points, including 3 3-pointers, and the Commodores were led by Jason Edwards’ 18 points and Devin McGlockton’s 14 points.
Kentucky was led by Otega Oweh’s 21 points, but the Wildcats (14-5, 3-3) faded down the stretch after storming back from a 41-27 halftime deficit. It was Kentucky’s second straight loss following last Saturday’s home loss to Alabama, and it set off that second straight court-storming moment for Vandy.
It doesn’t get any easier for Kentucky amid the SEC grind, with the Wildcats staying in the state to face Tennessee on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt will try to keep its momentum going on the road this time, traveling to Oklahoma next Saturday.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
