Sports

No. 1 Kentucky Survives Again, Beating LSU 71-69

Published

11 years ago

February 11, 2015

Kentucky head coach John Calipari calls out from the bench in the second half half of an NCAA college basketball game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. Kentucky won 71-69. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Frustrated by the way his undefeated Kentucky Wildcats were playing, coach John Calipari starting fist-pumping facetiously after LSU baskets and told his players he hoped they’d lose.

They almost did.

But Karl-Anthony Towns redeemed himself after drawing a technical foul — and the ire of his coach — for hanging on the basket. His go-head jump hook with 1:30 left and clutch offensive rebound in the final minute helped No. 1 Kentucky hold off the Tigers, 71-69 on Tuesday night.

“I’m proud of Karl because he came back and grew up,” Calipari said. “Now I doubt — ever in his life — will he chin-up on a basket, ever again. But that’s why I looked like an idiot on the sideline and why I refused to call timeout. I even said, ‘I hope we lose. Watch this!'”

Calipari explained that he wanted to make sure his team won’t lose elimination games in March over senseless fouls, so even as his assistants pleaded with him to call timeout, he just watched and joined in the ear-ringing frenzy at the sold out Pete Maravich Assembly Center during a stunning 21-2 LSU run that gave the Tigers a 66-60 lead.

“I’m not worried about losing,” at this point of the season, said Calipari, whose team improved to 24-0, and 11-0 in the Southeastern Conference. “This is about us getting better.”

As the Tigers stormed in front, Towns squirmed uncomfortably on the Kentucky bench, momentary regretting his lack of discipline.

“It was a momentum changer. I can’t be doing that,” said Towns, who finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. “During moments like that you think about your brothers and how much they’ve given you. You give everything back. I was more than happy to repay my brothers’ efforts.”

It was only narrowly enough. LSU guard Keith Hornsby had a shot to win it in the final seconds, but his off-balance 3 bounced off the outside of the rim.

Willie Cauley-Stein scored 15 points for the Wildcats, who can tie a school record for the best start to a season by winning at home on Saturday against South Carolina. Devin Booker added 14 and Andrew Harrison had 13 for the Wildcats.

Jarell Martin had 21 points and 11 rebounds for LSU (17-7, 6-5), while Hornsby scored 17 points.

Early in the second half, LSU appeared to be struggling with Kentucky’s height, with Cauley-Stein dunking twice within a few possessions as the Wildcats built a 10-point lead. Harrison then drained a 3 to give the Wildcats their largest lead at 58-45 with 12:46 to go.

LSU called timeout, and responded with its big run, starting with a 3 by Josh Gray. Hornsby scored eight points during the surge, including a 3 and a fast-break layup off of Cauley-Stein’s turnover that capped the run and put LSU up 66-60.

“We’ve battled through some tough games this year and put ourselves in position to have a shot to win it late,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said. “If you play that way throughout, some good things can happen for you. We’re constantly growing, and I feel like we took some positive steps tonight. Unfortunately, we just came up a little short.”

TIP-INS

Kentucky: Trey Lyles made his return from a three-game absence because of an illness. The 6-foot-10 forward played 18 minutes and finished with four points and three rebounds. … Kentucky has now won eight of the last nine meetings, with the lone loss to LSU coming last February in Baton Rouge.

LSU: Mickey now has 85 blocked shots this season with seven regular season games left. He blocked 106 shots last season.

DEAF DOME

Attendance was announced at 13,111 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the largest crowd since the 2008-09 season, when the Tigers sold out four times on the way to their last NCAA tournament appearance. When LSU opened up an early 10-2 lead, forcing Calipari to call timeout, the crowd was howling and retractable sections of the grandstand were shaking.

DAVIS VISIT

New Orleans Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis, who won a national title with the Wildcats in 2012, sat just behind the Kentucky bench, wearing Kentucky blue basketball shoes and a gray and blue sweatshirt. Afterward he stood outside the locker room, offering congratulatory hugs to current players and chatting with Calipari, who thanked Davis for a text marking his 56th birthday.

“It was great. He was funny,” Calipari said of seeing Davis, then joked, “I told him, he couldn’t even have played on this team.”

UP NEXT

Kentucky will host South Carolina on Saturday.

LSU visits Tennessee on Saturday.

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

4 weeks ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.