A small North Carolina school of 4,000 students, lead by walk-on Grayson Flittner, who only tried out for the team at a girlfriend's prompting, stunned Kentucky last night 84-68, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The Bulldogs pulled ahead 14-0 to start the game, and never relinquished the lead, as the Wildcats could only close within 7 at the half. Gardner-Webb finished 9-21 last season.
The loss eliminates No.20 Kentucky from the 2k Sports College Hoops Classic, and the Bulldogs will travel to New York to compete in the semi-final round. New Kentucky coach Billy Gillespie's words of warning about his team's weaknesses following his debut victory against Central Arkansas proved prescient, as Gardner-Webb repeatedly exploited Wildcat defensive breakdowns. (More Kentucky Wildcats stories.)