In a thrilling and hard-fought contest, the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season to the unranked Clemson Tigers, 78-71, at Rupp Arena on Tuesday night.

Coming into the game as underdogs, Clemson played with heart and determination, led by PJ Hall, who had a breakout performance with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

The Tigers shot 49% from the field, including 10-of-24 from three-point range, and outrebounded Kentucky 36-28. They dominated the paint, outscoring the Wildcats 42-28 in the interior.

Oscar Tshiebwe led Kentucky with 22 points and 19 rebounds, but the Wildcats struggled to find consistency on both ends of the court.

Kentucky shot just 39% from the field and made only 5-of-19 from three-point range. They also committed 14 turnovers, leading to 12 easy points for Clemson.

The game was a physical battle, with both teams playing with intensity and toughness. There were several key stops and big plays that kept the crowd on their feet.

Brad Brownell's Clemson team played with nerves of steel down the stretch, hitting crucial shots and rebounds to secure the upset victory.

The loss drops Kentucky to 9-1 on the season and ends their seven-game winning streak. It also snapped a 51-game home winning streak for the Wildcats, dating back to 2021.

The victory moves Clemson to 9-1 on the season and marks their first win over a top-5 team since 2018. It also gives the ACC a signature win over the SEC in the early going of the season.

The No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season in a hard-fought battle against the unranked Clemson Tigers, 78-71. Kentucky struggled to find consistency on both ends of the court, while Clemson played with heart and determination to secure the upset victory.

The loss will likely drop Kentucky out of the top 5 in the polls, but they will have a chance to bounce back with a home game against Alabama on Saturday.

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