Brooklyn was the center stage for college basketball's season tip-off as the Kentucky Wildcats and the Maryland Terrapins squared off in the Barclays Center 2012 Classic.

The game was a memorable one and resulted in a 72-69 victory for the Wildcats, who outlasted a gritty Maryland team who took this young team to the brink before falling just short at the end.

Kentucky was led by Kyle Wiltjer and Jarrod Polson, who played on last year's title team and had huge plays throughout the game. Wiltjer drained three-point bombs while Polson scored a career-high ten points and kept the team under control during his time at point guard.

Meanwhile, the Terrapins used a dominant front court to obliterate the Wildcats in the post. Center Alex Len posted a 20-10 game and completely outplayed Kentucky's Nerlens Noel, the nation's top recruit. Maryland ended up winning the rebounding battle 54-38.

However, it was not enough to overcome John Calipari's young but talented squad. The win for Kentucky keeps them rated among the nation's elite while also providing a valuable learning lesson for the team's newcomers. 

As for Maryland, they proved that they will be a major player in the ACC this season and could surpass everyone's expectations for them this year. 

In the end, the Barclay Center played host to a great crowd and a terrific basketball game that kept everyone entertained right through the final buzzer. It was a great way to kick off the 2012-13 college basketball season.