Advertisement

COL BKB: Kentucky 102, Indiana 90

ATLANTA, March 24 (UPI) -- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led a sensational free-throw exhibition Friday that earned Kentucky an NCAA regional final berth with a 102-90 victory over Indiana.

The top-seeded Wildcats avenged their only loss of the regular season and kept alive their hopes for an eighth national championship, by pulling away in the second half. They prevented any thoughts of an Indiana rally by hitting 35-of-37 shots from the foul line.

Advertisement

Kidd-Gilchrist was 10-of-10 from the line while scoring 24 points and the Kentucky starters hit 27 free throws in 29 tries.

Kentucky will face third-seeded Baylor in the title game of the South Region Sunday with a Final Four spot on the line.

The Wildcats have not won a national crown since 1998 but a win this year would move them within three of UCLA for the most in college basketball history. North Carolina and Indiana are tied for third-most national crowns with five each.

Doron Lamb added 21 points for Kentucky, Darius Miller had 19 off the bench and Marquis Teague had 14. The Wildcats became the first team in this year's NCAA Tournament to reach 100 points in a single game.

Advertisement

Christian Watford led Indiana with 27 points.

The Hoosiers (27-9) made only 5-of-18 from 3-point range and when they were forced to foul late in the game the Wildcats made them pay.

Indiana defeated Kentucky 73-72 Dec. 10 but the Wildcats then ran off 24 consecutive victories before losing in the finals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament to Vanderbilt.

Kentucky will take a 35-2 record into its meeting with Baylor.

Latest Headlines