Tyler Davis' game-winner boosts Aggies over UK in overtime, 79-77

In previous years Texas A&M just could not make the big plays down the stretch to close out victories over Kentucky at Reed Arena.

But this year continues to prove it’s so much different than the rest.

This season, the Aggies made the pivotal plays in the final seconds to capture a 79-77 Southeastern Conference basketball overtime victory on Saturday.

Freshman Tyler Davis, who was a force on the boards throughout the game, rebounded a Danuel House miss and banked in a shot at the buzzer.

By picking up House he almost brought the house down as 12,029 white-shirted fans erupted into a frenzied celebration that too often was denied.

In 2013 A&M fell to Kentucky, 72-67, in overtime at Reed Arena. Last season the Aggies lost here to the Wildcats in double overtime.

But this time Davis made sure there would be no buzz kill.

“Once Danuel got the ball I knew he was either going to shoot it or drive it,” Davis said. “He was getting to the basket, he just wasn’t getting some calls. I kept my guy on my back side and once (House) got the shot up I was able to get on the board and put it back in.

“I just tried to put it up as quick as possible. I had no idea how much time was on the clock.”

There was just enough time to win.

“He did exactly what I told him to do,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “He was the second option. Alex hit Danuel, who was the first option. Danuel did the right thing and drove it. We were fortunate to get a good bounce and Tyler was right there.”

However, the Aggies needed good fortune seconds earlier to be in position to get the win.

Seconds before, Kentucky appeared to protect a 76-75 lead when Anthony Collins’ drive was rejected by the Wildcats’ Isaac Humphries, who blocked and rebounded Collins’ shot.

But Humphries was assessed a technical foul — his fifth foul — for slamming the basketball to the floor.

That gave the Aggies a second chance.

House asked Kennedy to put him at the line to shoot the technical free throws and made both for a 77-76 A&M lead.

“I was leaning toward Anthony because he’s our best free throw shooter,” Kennedy said. “House said to me, 'Coach, I’ve got these.’ He shoots a bunch of free throws in practice, so I let him.”

Then, Kentucky forward Skal Labissiere, who was picked to shoot free throws on the other end in place in place of Humphries, could only tie the score when he missed the second of two foul shots.

The Aggies called timeout to set up a play for House. He took an inbounds pass and weaved into the lane to create a shot, but misfired. Davis followed for the rebound and put-back just before time expired.

Replays confirmed he just beat the clock.

While the Aggies were celebrating, Kentucky was lamenting the controversial technical foul on Humphries.

"He was celebrating,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “He was so happy. There was no disrespect to anybody. If that’s what they choose to call what are you going to do?”

The Aggies were going to count their blessings.

“I was like, ‘Thank you, appreciate the opportunity,'” A&M forward Jalen Jones said. “I was shocked. It ended up playing in our favor, so thanks to the dude on the other team.”

Jones led A&M (20-7, 9-5 SEC) with 24 points, while Davis posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Alex Caruso and D.J. Hogg both had 10 points and House contributed nine.

A&M got 20 offensive boards en route to out-rebounding Kentucky, 41-36. The Aggies turned those into 22 second chance points.

The Aggies also excelled in areas where they had struggled during an earlier five-game SEC losing streak. They allowed only six offensive rebounds and committed just seven turnovers.

Kentucky (20-7, 10-4) was led by guard Tyler Ulis, who had 22 points and 11 assists, and guard Jamal Murray, with 21 points.

A&M appeared on the way to posting a more comfortable victory midway through the second half.

A&M, which trailed 36-35 at intermission, went on an 11-2 run to take a 59-51 lead with 11:30 remaining.

However, Ulis was then fouled and Kennedy was assessed a technical foul for reacting to the call. Ulis capitalized by converting four consecutive free throws.

That seemed to rattle the Aggies, who missed six of their next seven shots, hit just two of four free throws and committed two turnovers over the next eight minutes.

But Kentucky, with shooting and turnover issues of its own, could not pull even until Ulis lofted an alley-oop pass to Marcus Lee to forge a 68-68 tie.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation.

Lee missed the front end of a one-and-one with 31 seconds to play.

After Davis rebounded, the Aggies called timeout with 22.6 seconds left to set up a final shot, but House’s 15-foot jumper came up short.

That time, Davis wasn’t there for the put-back.

Given a second chance, he was.