#19 Kentucky takes down #6 Duke in Champions Classic

ATLANTA, Ga. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – After a nine point halftime deficit, the cats escape with a 77-72 win over the blue devils on Tuesday night.

This was Kentucky’s first real test of the season, and it was a game all the way down to the final buzzer.

Kentucky shot 40% from both the field and the three. Andrew Carr led the cats with 17 points. Cooper Flagg led the blue devils with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

The cats lost the rebound game 45-41, but heavily won the three-point battle. Kentucky was 10-25 from the three (40%), compared to Duke’s 4-23 (17%).

Duke was dominant in the paint in the first half with 28 points. Kentucky responded in the second half with a much better defensive performance; limiting both points in the paint and points off turnovers.