USA - Gillespie suffers first loss with Kentucky

LEXINGTON (NCAA) - Billy Gillespie's honeymoon period as Kentucky coach is over.

It came to an abrupt end Wednesday night as the 22nd-ranked Wildcats crashed out of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer tournament with an 84-68 loss to unfancied Gardner-Webb.

The Wildcats (1-1) opened with a 67-40 victory over Central Arkansas in the first round on Tuesday in Gillespie's first game as coach since taking over for Tubby Smith. It seemed they had an easy route to the semifinals with a matchup against the Runnin' Bulldogs, but it was not to be.

Gardner-Webb, which has only been a Division I program since 2000, entered the game 0-6 in matchups against Southeastern Conference schools and 0-3 against ranked opponents.

But none of that mattered as they jumped out to a 9-0 lead and taking a 38-27 advantage into the locker rooms at half-time.

Kentucky were never able to mount a sustained run in the second half and any time they got remotely close, Gardner-Webb had the answer.

After Kentucky missed a 3-pointer that could have cut the deficit to five, Grayson Flittner connected from the arc to make it 61-50 with seven minutes to play.

A little over a minute later Flittner was fouled taking a 3-pointer and made two free throws to make it 64-50.

Flittner scored 22 points and Thomas Sanders added 21 for the Runnin' Bulldogs (2-0). Ramel Bradley scored 24 points for Kentucky.

FIBA