Early shocker: Kentucky upset by Gardner-Webb

November 08, 2007|Jeffrey McMurray, Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Billy Gillispie's second game as Kentucky's coach was one he'd rather forget - and Gardner-Webb will remember for a long time. Grayson Flittner scored 22 points to help Gardner-Webb beat the No. 20 Wildcats, 84-68, last night in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.

The Wildcats fell behind, 14-0, and never cut the deficit under 7 points.

"A lot of people will think this is a misprint, but I hope not," Gardner-Webb coach Rick Scruggs said. "I hope they get to see it and can enjoy it."

The Wildcats hadn't lost a regular-season game to an opponent in a mid-major conference since falling to Western Kentucky Nov. 15, 2001, in that season's opener.

The tournament had been set up to send four top programs - Memphis, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and Kentucky - to New York next week to play in the semifinals. Last night in Storrs, UConn got past Morgan State, 69-65, behind Jerome Dyson's 20 points. As a result, Gardner-Webb, which finished 9-21 last season, will next play the winner of tonight's game between Buffalo and UConn.

Gillispie, the former Texas A&M coach, took over the Wildcats after Tubby Smith left for Minnesota. He opened his tenure Tuesday with a 67-40 victory over Central Arkansas.