Former Kentucky guard Patrick Sparks (pictured) was the Y in the spelling of Kentucky during a game vs. Utah Valley on Friday, November 10, 2017, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)

We are still twelve days from the basketball version of the Battle of the Bluegrass between Kentucky and Louisville but today marks the thirteen year anniversary of one of the rivalry’s most memorable moments.

On December 18, 2004, Tubby Smith’s Wildcats defeated Louisville by a score of 60-58. The hero of the day was Patrick Sparks, who was fouled on a desperation three-point attempt in the corner. With 0.6 seconds remaining in the game and Kentucky trailing 68-67, Sparks stepped to the line and buried all three free throws to give Kentucky a 60-58 win.

The image of Sparks at the free throw line will live on in the minds of Wildcat fans but what made the win even more exciting was Kentucky trailed by 16 points with less than 11 minutes remaining in the game.

After being outscored 32-16 in the first half, Kentucky flipped the script in the second half by outscoring Louisville 44-26. The three free throws capped a 25-point night for Sparks and a moment that will be considered one of the best in program history.