Johnson, Travis key UK victory vs. UNC

Keldon Johnson scored 23 points, Reid Travis added 20, and No. 19 Kentucky beat ninth-ranked North Carolina 80-72 on Saturday in a matchup between two of the game’s winningest programs at the CBS Sports Classic in Chicago.

Johnson scored 16 in the second half, helping the Wildcats (9-2) hold off the Tar Heels (8-3) in their first meeting since the 2017 NCAA South Regional final. North Carolina won that game on a last-second jumper by Luke Maye en route to its sixth national title.

This time, Johnson came on strong down the stretch after Travis got off to a scorching start.

Johnson hit three 3s in the second half and made 4 of 7 from beyond the arc overall. Travis scored 16 as the Wildcats grabbed a 40-31 halftime lead.

Tyler Herro scored 15. PJ Washington added 11 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight assists, and Kentucky won its second in a row since an overtime loss to Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden.

Cameron Johnson led North Carolina with 17 points. Maye scored 16 for the Tar Heels, who knocked off then-No. 4 Gonzaga one week earlier.

It was the Tar Heels’ first game since the school announced an eight-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season for Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams.

Auburn avoids upset: Samir Doughty scored 20 points, Austin Wiley had 17 points and 10 rebounds and No. 7 Auburn held off visiting Murray State 93-88.

Four days after being upset by North Carolina State, Auburn led 91-79 with 55 seconds remaining before getting a scare because of Murray State’s full-court press and turnovers by the Tigers.

The Racers cut Auburn’s lead to three points with 19 seconds left, but Jared Harper’s free throws on the other end sealed the Tigers’ victory.

Doughty and Wiley were players to score in double Auburn (10-2).

Ja Morant led Murray State (8-2) with 25 points and eight rebounds. two of figures five for Florida