The SEC clinched the SEC/ACC Challenge on Night 1 despite Kentucky's loss

On night one of the SEC/ACC Challenge, the SEC proved it really does mean more, winning nine of ten games to clinch the head-to-head battle. Unfortunately, Kentucky’s 70-66 loss to Clemson was the SEC’s lone defeat.

The nine other SEC teams took care of business against their ACC counterparts, led by No. 3 Tennessee’s 96-70 rout of Syracuse. The league’s other ranked teams also cruised, No. 21 Oklahoma beating Georgia Tech by 15, No. 22 Texas A&M winning an ugly one vs. Wake Forest, and No. 23 Ole Miss blowing out Louisville in the Yum Center. Even that doesn’t really make me smile after the Cats’ undefeated start to the season ended at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Also victorious tonight: Arkansas. The Razorbacks trailed Miami most of the game before rallying to win 76-73. Boogie Fland was big down the stretch, hitting the game-winning bucket with 52 seconds to go. He finished with 18 points and six assists.

Here is the complete SEC/ACC Challenge scoreboard:

• Clemson 70, No. 4 Kentucky 66
• No. 3 Tennessee 96, Syracuse 70
• No. 21 Oklahoma 76, Georgia Tech 61
• No. 22 Texas A&M 57, Wake Forest 44
• No. 23 Ole Miss 86, Louisville 63
• Arkansas 76, Miami 73
• Georgia 69, Notre Dame 48
• Missouri 98, California 93
• South Carolina 73, Boston College 51
• LSU 85, Florida State 75

…And the schedule for a huge Day 2, headlined by No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 20 North Carolina and No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 9 Duke.

• 7:15 PM: No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 20 North Carolina (ESPN)
• 7:15 PM: Virginia vs. No. 13 Florida (ESPN2)
• 9:15 PM: No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 2 Duke (ESPN)
• 9:15 PM: No. 18 Pitt vs. Mississippi State (SEC Network)
• 9:15 PM: Texas vs. NC State (ESPN2)
• 9:15 PM: Vanderbilt vs. Virginia TEch (ACC Network)