BOX SCORE: Andrew Carr, Jaxson Robinson get Kentucky's comeback over the hump

Kentucky looked dead in the water in the first half against No. 7 Gonzaga in Seattle. The Wildcats allowed 50 points in 34 possessions as the Bulldogs shot nearly 70 percent from two-point range. Mark Few‘s got 18 points from big Graham Ike and seven assists from Ryan Nembhard in an impressive first 20 minutes. That allowed the home team at this neutral-site game to take a 16-point lead into halftime.

Gonzaga left Climate Pledge Arena with a one-point overtime loss despite that huge first half. How did the Wildcats overcome an 18-point deficit? Mark Pope‘s team got big contributions from two starters.

Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr finished the game with a team-high 19 points on 12 field goal attempts with seven rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes. The big scored 11 points after the halftime break, and Kentucky recorded a plus-16 with him in the lineup in the second half. Carr gave Kentucky a real interior presence by playing a big role in UK winning the paint points battle (48-44).

Following a calf injury to Kerr Kriisa, Pope’ point guard depth was decimated. Kentucky decided to run Jaxson Robinson at the point. The 2024 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year had his best performance as a Wildcat in Seattle.

Robinson finished the game 18 points on 15 field goal attempts with three rebounds, five assists, and zero turnovers in 36 minutes. The guard/wing finished the second half with 13 points on five-of-six shooting. Kentucky was plus-15 with Robinson on the floor in the second half.

Kentucky does not pull off the big comeback without massive efforts from two of the best players on the roster.

Box Score: Kentucky vs. Gonzaga