NEW YORK — Kentucky men's basketball on Saturday had a final opportunity to make a statement before Christmas. Entering the contest against UCLA, UK owned an 0-2 record in its two most high-profile games of the year: a double-overtime setback to Michigan State in Indianapolis and a lopsided loss to Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington.
Make that 0-3.
The No. 13 Wildcats trailed for nearly the entire game, falling to the No. 16 Bruins 63-53 at Madison Square Garden in Game 2 of the CBS Sports Classic.
The first game of the doubleheader, featuring North Carolina and Ohio State, was a back-and-forth tussle that had to go to overtime before the Tar Heels pulled out an 89-84 victory.