Monk’s 47 lift Kentucky by North Carolina
LAS VEGAS — Malik Monk scored a Kentucky freshman-record 47 points and hit the goahead 3-pointer with 16.7 seconds left to lead the sixth-ranked Wildcats past No. 7 North Carolina 103-100 on Saturday in a thrilling showdown of traditional powers.
“If you watched that game, if you never liked basketball, you’re going to start liking basketball,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “Like, wow.
North Carolina’s Justin Jackson nearly outshined Monk with 34 points, and his basket with 45 seconds left put the Tar Heels (10-2) ahead after trailing much of the second half.
Monk responded with a right-wing 3 in transition to put Kentucky up 101-100 after it led much of the second half.
After Isaiah Hicks only hit the backboard at the other end, Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox hit two free throws with 1.9 seconds left.
North Carolina got the ball in the frontcourt with less than a second left. But Kenny Williams’ desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer lodged between the rim and backboard.
Monk hit 18 of 28 shots, going 8-of-12 from 3-point territory, scoring in various ways in an electric performance that was the most points in Division I this season.
And Kentucky needed it to offset Jackson’s 4 3s and 10 free throws in a game played at a furious pace.
“Heck of a college basketball game if you don’t care who won,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “But I do care who wins. Malik was off the charts.”
Jamal Murray (last season) and Terrence Jones (2011) held the previous Kentucky record for points in a game by a freshman with 35.
Fox added 24 points for Kentucky (10-1), which shot 54 percent from the field.
Joel Berry II returned from injury to add 23 points for the Tar Heels, but was slowed by foul trouble in the second half.
The sold-out enthusiastic crowd at the new T-Mobile Arena just off the Las Vegas Strip made it feel like an Elite Eight game.
The quality of play in the CBS Sports Classic matchup gave it more of a Final Four feel. UCLA 86, OHIO STATE 73
Aaron Holiday and Bryce Alford each scored 20 points as the secondranked Bruins remained unbeaten with a win over the Buckeyes in Las Vegas.
Isaac Hamilton scored 17 points and T.J. Leaf added 13 for the Bruins (12-0), who continued their best start since being 14-0 in 2006-07.
Marc Loving scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half for the Buckeyes (8-3). KANSAS 89, DAVIDSON 71 Josh Jackson and Frank Mason III scored 18 points apiece, helping the third-ranked Jayhawks overcome a sluggish, sloppy first half to beat the Wildcats in Kansas City, Mo.
Svi Mykhailiuk also had 13 points for the Jayhawks (10-1), who extended their nation-leading home winning streak to 49 games. Kansas considered the matchup with the Wildcats (5-4) a home game even though it was played just down the road from its campus in Lawrence.
It was the Jayhawks’ eighth straight win in the building, including the Big 12 Tournament last season and the CBE Clas- sic a few weeks ago.
Peyton Aldridge hit five 3s and had 22 points to lead the Wildcats. BUTLER 83, INDIANA 78
In Indianapolis, Kelan Martin scored 28 points and Kamar Baldwin added a season-high 14 for the No. 18 Bulldogs in the Crossroads Classic.
Butler (10-1) has upset the No. 9 Hoosiers (8-2) twice in the last three meetings.
James Blackmon Jr. led Indiana with 26 points. CREIGHTON 66 ORAL ROBERTS 65
Marcus Foster scored 22 points as the No. 10 Blue Jays (11-0) rallied to beat the Golden Eagles (2-10) in Omaha, Neb. WEST VIRGINIA 112 UMKC 67
In Morgantown, W.Va., coach Bob Huggins earned his 800th win as the 12th-ranked Mountaineers (9-1) used a 37-4 first-half run to cruise to the victory.
Huggins is the 10th coach to reach 800 wins and only the third to achieve that milestone at his alma mater, the others being Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and Adolph Rupp at Kentucky. PURDUE 86 NOTRE DAME 81
Caleb Swanigan had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Vincent Edwards finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the No. 15 Boilermakers (9-2) got their first victory in the Crossroads Classic since it began six years ago.
Bonzie Colson had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Matt Farrell finished with 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for No, 21 Notre Dame (9-2), which has lost two straight. SOUTH CAROLINA 77 SOUTH FLORIDA 66
In Tampa, Fla., PJ Dozier scored 11 of his 23 points in the closing minutes for the No. 16 Gamecocks (9-1).
Jahmal McMurray led USF (5-4) with 25 points. XAVIER 69 WAKE FOREST 65
In Cincinnati, Trevon Bluiett scored 20 points as the No. 17 Musketeers (9-2) edged the Demon Deacons.
Bryant Crawford chipped in 20 points for the Demon Deacons (8-3).
From wire reports