LSU upsets Kentucky on controversial tip-in at the buzzer

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- No. 19 LSU used a controversial tip-in at the buzzer from Kavell Bigby-Williams to upset No. 5 Kentucky, beating the Wildcats for the first time since 2009.

The 6-foot-11 senior got his fingers on the basketball just as it was coming off of the rim and managed to beat the clock for a 73-71 win on Tuesday at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Kentucky guard Keldon Johnson tied the score by making two free throws with 6 seconds remaining before Tigers guard Skylar Mays dribbled coast-to-coast. Mays ran in for a lay-up attempt high off of the glass, but the shot missed. Three Kentucky players were defending on the play, but the ball bounced over the Wildcats and hit the front of the rim, where Bigby-Williams was able to tip it in just before the final buzzer sounded.

Kentucky coach John Calipari thought referees should have called goaltending on the play. Officials only reviewed the shot to see if Bigby-Williams beat the clock.

"We were obviously fortunate at the end," Tigers coach Will Wade told reporters. "The ball goes off the rim and we make a play there, but it was just a good team win for us. I was proud of our guys. We hung in there."

P.J. Washington scored a game-high 20 points and had nine rebounds and three assists in the loss for Kentucky. Tremont Waters scored 15 points for the Tigers. Keldon Johnson chipped in 16 points for the Wildcats.

Kentucky led by as many as nine points in the second half and led the game for more than 28 minutes, compared to LSU's 8:19 of holding a lead.

The score remained close in the first half before Kentucky took a 6-0 run into the intermission for a 40-32 advantage at the break. The Tigers clawed back to tie the score at 54-54 with 9:17 remaining. Emmitt Williams gave LSU a 58-56 led about a minute later and the Tigers would not trail again.

Calipari addressed the final shot after the game, saying the referees should have reviewed the final play for goaltending.

" ... It's another one -- do you remember we lost in the Final Four when there was a goal, a shot clock violation and they said it was not reviewable and then they changed the rule to say, why would you want to lose a game on a shot clock violation and it's easy to go check?" Calipari told reporters.

"Well, this one easy to go check, too. Just go check it. Why would you not -- why would that not be reviewable? So we're like Wilt Chamberlain; we change rules. I don't know."

The LSU victory snapped a 10-game winning streak for Kentucky. The Wildcats host No. 1 Tennessee at 8 p.m. on Saturday in Lexington. The Tigers battle Georgia at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga.