No. 24 Kentucky needed a three-pointer from Alex Wilkins with 2.1 seconds left to escape Northern Arizona 78-77 on Friday night in Lexington, surviving a scare from a Lumberjacks side that lost 22 games last season and was picked to finish last in the Big Sky Conference.

Key Points

• Alex Wilkins buried a three-pointer from the right wing with 2.1 seconds left to lift No. 24 Kentucky past Northern Arizona 78-77 on Friday, 13 November 2026, in Lexington.
• Northern Arizona led 77-73 after a Cade Bennett three-pointer with 22 seconds left, but missed its final two free throws in the last 11 seconds.
• Wilkins, Malachi Moreno and Milan Momcilovic each scored 14 points for Kentucky, which improved to 3-1.
• Chris Komin scored 25 points with seven rebounds and six assists for the Lumberjacks, who fell to 0-4.
• No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Illinois and No. 4 UConn all won on Friday night.

What Happened

The Wildcats looked beaten with 22 seconds left. Bennett's three-pointer had put Northern Arizona 77-73 ahead, and the Lumberjacks, a 22-loss team a year ago, were seconds from one of the biggest wins in programme history. Then the game turned on the free-throw line. Northern Arizona had made its first 10 free throws, but missed its final two in the last 11 seconds, and the last of them, a miss by Komin on the front end of a one-and-one, handed Kentucky the ball with a chance to win it.

Wilkins took it. The Kentucky guard caught the ball on the right wing and let fly, and the three-pointer dropped with 2.1 seconds on the clock to put the Wildcats 78-77 ahead. A half-court heave at the buzzer from Ryan Abelman hit off the backboard and missed. Wilkins, Moreno and Momcilovic all finished with 14 points for Kentucky, while Komin's 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists led Northern Arizona. The Wildcats improved to 3-1; the Lumberjacks fell to 0-4.

Background: A Mismatch That Refused to Follow the Script

On paper, this was a routine November home game for a ranked team. Kentucky, No. 24 in the country, was hosting a Northern Arizona side that had lost 22 games last season and was predicted to finish last in the Big Sky Conference in both the preseason coaches and media polls. The Lumberjacks arrived in Lexington at 0-3.

But November is when upsets happen: new rosters are still finding their shape and visiting teams arrive with nothing to lose. Northern Arizona played that way from the opening minutes, led for most of the night, and with 22 seconds left led by four points. For Kentucky, the game was a reminder that a ranking guarantees nothing in November.

Kentucky 78-77 Northern Arizona: How Wilkins Saved the Wildcats

The final 22 seconds told the whole story. Bennett's three put Northern Arizona 77-73 ahead, but the free-throw line undid the Lumberjacks: after making their first 10 attempts, they missed their last two in the final 11 seconds. Komin's miss on the front end of a one-and-one gave Kentucky the ball back, and Wilkins' three-pointer from the right wing with 2.1 seconds left was the kind of shot that defines an early season: one clean look, taken with confidence, in a game his team had spent the whole night chasing.

Elsewhere on Friday, the top 25 mostly held serve. No. 1 Florida beat Merrimack 83-54, No. 2 Duke beat SIU Edwardsville 90-47, No. 3 Illinois beat Sam Houston 108-86 behind a career-best 28 points from Tomislav Ivisic, and No. 4 UConn beat Ohio State 84-68. No. 5 Michigan State hit a school-record 18 three-pointers against Northern Iowa, No. 12 Arizona ended Auburn's 69-game nonconference home winning streak, and No. 17 Miami, No. 18 Alabama, No. 19 Arkansas and No. 22 Vanderbilt all won.

Reactions and Quotes

No post-game quotes were carried in the reports of the game, but the numbers told the story plainly enough. Three Kentucky players finished on 14 points, and none of them could separate the Wildcats from an opponent picked last in the Big Sky until Wilkins' final shot. Komin's 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists showed a visiting star rising to the occasion. The free-throw line was the other story: Northern Arizona made its first 10 attempts, then missed its last two in the final 11 seconds, and the second miss was the opening Kentucky needed.

Why It Matters

For Kentucky, the scare is an early-season warning. A No. 24 ranking brings expectations, and a four-point deficit with 22 seconds left at home to a team picked last in the Big Sky is the kind of performance that raises questions, even when the final shot falls. The Wildcats are 3-1, and they won, but the manner of the win will stay with them longer than the result.

For Northern Arizona, the loss still carries meaning. The Lumberjacks are 0-4, but they led a ranked team for most of the night on its own floor and were one free throw from winning it. LSU stunned No. 14 Gonzaga 81-80 on a last-second three of its own, and No. 22 UCLA stunned No. 5 Arizona 84-75 on opening night, so Kentucky's narrow escape fits a season that has already produced its share of shocks.

What Happens Next

Kentucky moves on at 3-1 with a win that will feel better in the record books than it did for most of the night in Lexington. The Wildcats will want a cleaner performance next time out: a slow start against a confident underdog can turn a routine home game into a one-possession fight.

Northern Arizona, still winless at 0-4, heads into the rest of its nonconference schedule with a performance to build on. If the Lumberjacks carry that level into Big Sky play, the preseason predictions of a last-place finish will start to look wide of the mark. Kentucky's football team had a far worse time against Tennessee last weekend, losing 34-6, so the basketball Wildcats will be glad their escape ended differently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score between Kentucky and Northern Arizona?
No. 24 Kentucky beat Northern Arizona 78-77 on Friday, 13 November 2026, in Lexington.

Who hit the game-winning shot for Kentucky?
Alex Wilkins made a three-pointer from the right wing with 2.1 seconds left.

Who led Northern Arizona in scoring?
Chris Komin scored 25 points, with seven rebounds and six assists.

What are the teams' records now?
Kentucky improved to 3-1, while Northern Arizona fell to 0-4.

How did the other ranked teams do on Friday night?
No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Illinois and No. 4 UConn all won, as did No. 5 Michigan State, No. 6 Virginia, No. 11 Tennessee and No. 12 Arizona.