Kentucky’s reign as the nation’s No. 1 team will last only one week as Evansville shocked the Wildcats, 67-64, on Tuesday night in Lexington, Ky.
The Purple Aces (2-0), coached by Walter McCarty of Kentucky’s 1996 N.C.A.A. championship team, were in contention from the start. Evansville never led by more than eight points, but it never trailed over the final 11 minutes. The Aces held the lead for 29:31 compared to just 5:44 for the Wildcats.
K.J. Riley and Sam Cunliffe paced Evansville with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Cunliffe, who also grabbed six rebounds, calmly swished two free throws with six seconds remaining for the final points.