Epps' 42 Lifts Cats Over MSU in 2OT

  Where do I begin? In a war that seemed to go on for days, no. 10 Kentucky takes down the no. 13 Mississippi State Bulldogs, 92-90 in double overtime. Makayla Epps drops 42 points (!!!), a new career high, as well as hitting the game-winning jumper with just 0.4 seconds remaining in double overtime.   The first half was all about offense, and Kentucky went into halftime shooting 60% from the floor on 21/35 shooting. UK was able to extend a small lead to double digits before the half, and went into the locker room up 48-36 despite being out-rebounded. The Cats’ backcourt of Harper, Epps, and Goss combined for 32 of the teams’ 48 first half points.   After being up 10 points with five minutes to go, a 10-2 MSU run, along with Kentucky turning the ball over five times in six possessions, allowed for Mississippi State to gain the lead for the first time all game with 2:09 left in regulation. With 30 seconds remaining, Victoria Vivians (I’ll get to her big night in a moment), hits a huge three-pointer for the Bulldogs. Following the shot, Bria Goss comes down and is fouled. The senior guard hits both free throws, hoping to seal the victory, but Morgan William was having none of it and hits the game-tying layup with 6 seconds left. End of regulation.   Coming down the stretch in the first overtime, Vivians hits another acrobatic shot with 27 seconds left on the clock falling out of bounds. Strangely, while her shot was in the air, a UK player pushed through the screen and was called for a foul, giving Mississippi State a very unconventional four-point play. Following an O’Neill miss, Kentucky has the ball out of bounds under the goal with 11 seconds left. Unsurprisingly, Epps’ number was called, and she hits a floater in the lane to send the game into a second overtime.   The ending to double overtime was unbelievable. Epps hits two shots and then a layup with 44 seconds left on the clock to give UK a two-point lead. Once again, Mississippi State came down and answered. In control of the final shot, Coach Mitchell had Epps kill some time dribbling on top of the key. She was unable to convert after taking her defender off the dribble, leading to a scramble for the ball as the final seconds ticked away. Jelleah Sidney eventually taps the ball to Epps on the right block where she then awkwardly banks in the game-winner with .4 on the clock. Watch the video on ESPN here:   This game was like watching a heavyweight fight between Victoria Vivians and Makayla Epps. Vivians scores 39 points (5/10 3FG) and grabs 8 rebounds to carry her Bulldogs, but was trumped by the outstanding game from Epps. Makayla scored 42 points, on 18/30 shooting, with 5 assists and 6 rebounds. After the game Epps said her motivation is to fill the large shoes that Thompson’s injury left, and that all she wants to do is “make her proud.” I’m positive she did that tonight.   The post could’ve easily been titled “Vivians vs. Epps” but Bria Goss also quietly had herself a night with 16 points and 2 steals. Surprisingly, Jennifer O’Neill, usually an offensive spark off the bench, struggled, hitting only 2/8 from deep and 3/14 overall. The win tonight puts Kentucky back in third place in the SEC, just one spot above MSU. No. 10 UK is now 8-3 in league-play and 19-5 overall.   Kentucky will travel to Knoxville on Sunday for a rematch against no. 6 Tennessee. The Cats lost the last meeting in Lexington, 72-73. You can catch the game at 3:00pm on ESPN2.   @armonnett