Kentucky’s terrible start too much to overcome. No. 2 Gonzaga hands Cats another loss.

SPOKANE, Wash. — It was an all systems fail from the get-go for the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday evening.

A much-anticipated matchup between No. 4 UK and No. 2 Gonzaga fizzled — from the Cats’ perspective, at least — almost immediately, and the Bulldogs rolled Kentucky, 88-72, in a packed Spokane Arena that was already raucous an hour before the opening tip.

UK missed its first five shots of the game. The Zags made their first five shots of the game.