The Kentucky Wildcats were up by enough on the Hilltoppers to escape another run late in the game to advance to the next round of the NCAA tournament. UK (33-2) defeated WKU (16-19) 81-66 Thursday night at the Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
“Western, you knew, wouldn’t go away,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “They make plays down the stretch to try to win.”
The Cats started with an early eight point lead in the first two minutes of the game after a goaltending call on sophomore forward Terrence Jones and an early foul on freshman forward Marquis Teague.
Teague created shots for teammates throughout the game and ended with 12 points and four assists.
The Hiltoppers didn’t score their first bucket until the 16:46 mark in the first half.
But WKU’s persistence allowed them to climb into the game, contesting shots and going on a 7-0 run over less than two minutes to close the lead 10-7 with 14:58 to play in the half.
WKU later took the lead 12-10 at 14:29 after a three by TJ Price, but UK quickly took it back after back-to-back buckets by Jones. He recorded his third double-double in four games with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
“We try to get (Jones) going early,” freshman forward Anthony Davis said. “We know if Terrence plays well, it’s gonna be a big day for us.”
Davis recorded 16 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks.
UK was able to pull away after the Cats strung together an 8-0 run to lead at 18-12. From then, WKU had trouble handling the Cats’ defense, as it held WKU to 10 points in the final 10 minutes of the half, and UK coasted to a comfortable 45-26 lead at halftime.
Sophomore guard Doron Lamb came out of his shooting slump from the SEC tournament, and helped lead scoring at the half with 14 points while Jones recorded 15. Lamb ended the game with 16 points.
“We’ve got confidence in (Lamb),” Davis said. “He’s making shots now, so he’s making us a better team. We’re very confident in just kicking it out to him knowing he’s gonna make it.”
The Cats opened up the second half with a 5-0 run and WKU missed its first five shots to trail 50-26 with 17:15 to play.
UK did no slowing down as the time wound down. The Cats shot 55 percent from the field on the game and the Cats led by as many as 32 points at 74-42 with 8:42 left.
But that deficit wouldn’t keep the Hilltoppers away. WKU 16-1 run cut the lead 81-66 with a minute left.
“We kind of slowed down and let off the gas,” Teague said. “It’s hard to keep playing like that when you’re up so many points, but we can’t do that. We’ve gotta finish the game out.”
Now, UK looks to advance to the next round of the tournament, and while fans are pulling for a rematch with Connecticut, the Cats have no preference between UCONN and Iowa State.
“I just want to advance,” Jones said. “Whoever wins, I’m just trying to get ready for them and hopefully we have a game plan.”