Saint Peter's upsets Kentucky in overtime, advances to Round of 32

Throw your brackets away, Saint Peter’s has defeated Kentucky 85-79. Daryl Banks III scored 27 points on five 3-pointers to lead the 15-seeded Peacocks over the two-seed Wildcats.

Kentucky wasn’t able to break free from Saint Peter’s grasp in the first half and headed into halftime tied at 37. The back-and-forth game between the Wildcats and Peacocks continued until Kentucky managed to earn its largest lead of the night at the time at 6 with under four minutes remaining in regulation amid a 10-2 run.

A quick 7-0 run gave the Peacocks a 69-68 lead after a Doug Edert 3-pointer, but Kentucky’s Kellan Grady on the ensuing. Edbert’s next jumper tied the game at 71 and forced overtime after TyTy Washington missed the potential game-winning shot.

Oscar Tshiebwe, who finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds, got Kentucky on the board first in the extra period with four-straight points. Another trey from Edert tied the game for the 15th, and Saint Peter’s took their first OT lead 77-76.

Saint Peter’s took the lead and never looked back. A game-changing call with the Peacocks up three that saw UK’s Keion Brooks‘ thumb tip the ball on its way out of bounds sealed the deal. Two free throws later and the Peacocks tied their game-high lead of five.

Kentucky would not waver, as Washington pulled up from deep to cut the game to just two points with 21.6 seconds remaining. Free throws would roll in the favor of Saint Peter’s, however, and the Peacocks held off the Wildcats 85-79. In a venue packed to the brim with Big Blue Nation, the Peacocks sent head coach John Calipari and the Wildcats back to Lexington until next season with a bitter taste in their mouth.

Saint Peter’s will advance to the Round of 32 for a date with the winner of Murray State and San Francisco Saturday afternoon.