Kentucky wins thriller in Las Vegas

Malik Monk scored a Kentucky freshman record 47 points and hit the goahead three-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 in the CBS Sports Classic in Las Vegas.

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 three-pointer in transition to put Kentucky up, 101-100, after it led much of the second half. After Isaiah Hicks hit only 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 three at the buzzer got lodged between the rim and backboard.

Monk hit 18 of 28 shots, including eight of 12 threepoint attempts, scoring in various ways in an electric performance that reached the highest point total in Division I this season. Kentucky needed it to offset Jackson’s four three-pointers and 10 free throws in a game played at a furious pace. Fox added 24 points for Kentucky (10-1), which shot 54% from the field.

Joel Berry II returned from injury to add 23 points for the Tar Heels, but he was slowed by foul trouble in the second half.

No. 18 Butler 83, No. 9 Indiana 78: Kelan Martin scored 28 points and Kamar Baldwin added a seasonhigh 14 as the Bulldogs held off the Hoosiers’ late charge for a victory in the Crossroads Classic at Indianapolis.

Butler (10-1) has won two straight overall and has upset the Hoosiers twice in the last three meetings.

James Blackmon Jr. led Indiana (8-2) with 26 points and Thomas Bryant had 15 points and seven rebounds as the Hoosiers cut an 11point deficit with 8:10 left to play to 79-77 on Blackmon’s three-pointer with 38.7 seconds left.

No. 15 Purdue 86, No. 21 Notre Dame 81: Caleb Swanigan had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Vincent Edwards finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boilermakers escaped with a victory over the Fighting Irish, Purdue’s first win in the Crossroads Classic since it began six years ago.

Swanigan’s three-point play at the end of a 13-2 run gave the Boilermakers (9-2) a 70-67 lead with 9:41 to play.

Bonzie Colson had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Matt Farrell finished with 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for Notre Dame (9-2), which has lost two straight.

No. 19 Arizona 67, Texas A&M 63: Dusan Ristic tied a season high with 18 points as the Wildcats had to hold off a furious rally in Houston by the Aggies for their fourth straight win.

Ristic scored 14 of Arizona’s first 24 points and finished eight for 12 from the field for the Wildcats (10-2), who shot 40% from the field, including 48% in the first half.

Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Kobi Simmons chipped in 14 points for the Wildcats.

Tyler Davis had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Robert Williams added 15 points and Admon Gilder had 13 points for the Aggies (7-3), who shot 45% from the field, including 53% in the second half.

No. 3 Kansas 89, Davidson 71: Josh Jackson and Frank Mason III scored 18 points apiece, helping thirdranked Kansas the Jayhawks overcome a sluggish, sloppy first half to beat the Wildcats at Sprint Center 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.

No. 17 Xavier 69, Wake Forest 65: Trevon Bluiett scored 20 points, including three free throws in the final 19 seconds, and No. 17 the Musketeers held on for a victory over the Demon Deacons.

Xavier (9-2) led most of the second half but didn’t have the game in hand until Bluiett hit one of his two free throws with 2 seconds left. Wake Forest (8-3) missed a pair of three-point shots that could have tied it before Bluiett got the rebound and was fouled.

Bryant Crawford scored 20 points for the Demon Deacons. They missed all of their 12 shots from beyond the arc in the second half.