Dec. 29, 2007
Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Brandon Johnson led San Diego with a career-high 27 points to stun Kentucky 81-72 on the Wildcats' home floor on Saturday before 23,756 fans at historic Rupp Arena. Walk-on guard Devin Ginty, getting his second straight start, gave USD a huge boost by making 4-of-4 three-pointers and totaling 18 points.
"Wow. I don't know if I have ever been more proud of our guys," said an ecstatic Bill Grier. "I'm proud of the way we competed and battled. It's something we have been stressing to our kids all season. And today our kids came out with that look in their eye. I'm also proud of the way we finished off the game and made our free throws."
The Wildcats (5-6) were again led by freshman forward Patrick Patterson, who had 20 points. Patterson and Perry Stevenson had five rebounds each to lead the Wildcats.
The loss was the fifth in Kentucky's last six games.
Sophomore guards Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper returned from injuries to play for the Wildcats.
Jasper had not played this season and Meeks had played in one of Kentucky's last eight games. Jasper had four assists.
The Toreros (7-8) and Wildcats traded leads twice early in the second half but San Diego took the lead for good on a free throw by Gyno Pomare, making the score 44-43 with 13:49 to play in the game. Pomare led San Diego with 12 rebounds. He also became USD's 21st player to score 1,000 career points, and is now just the 12th Torero to join the 1,000 point/500 rebound club. He needed 5 points to reach 1,000 and finished the game with his fourth double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The Toreros led most of the first half and led at the break, 35-33.
Kentucky tied the game at 31 and 33 but a pair of free throws by Pomare with 3.7 seconds to play gave the Toreros their halftime margin.
The Wildcats' only lead of the first half was 3-2 after a 3-pointer by Ramel Bradley.
Added Grier, "Devin Ginty, who is just a walk-on, had the game of his life. He stepped up and hit some really big shots for us."
"Coach told us to come out swinging," said junior guard Brandon Johnson. "We gave the game ball to Devin (Ginty), he really stepped up. The team's been looking for me to step up and I'm glad I was able to come through for us. The entire team played hard and everyone contributed"
The Toreros now head to West Virginia to face Marshall on New Year's Eve (11 am PST).
