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COL BKB: Louisville 72, Wichita State 68

ATLANTA, April 6 (UPI) -- Russ Smith and Luke Hancock teamed up for 41 points Saturday and No. 1 Louisville rallied for a 72-68 win over Wichita State and a berth in the NCAA title game.

Smith scored 10 of his 21 points in the second half and Hancock added 11 of his 20 after the break -- including two late 3-pointers -- as the Cardinals (34-5) erased a 12-point deficit.

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Tim Henderson began the late surge with a pair of 3-pointers and Louisville went on a 12-3 run, grabbing the lead for good in its quest for its first NCAA championship since 1986.

Chane Behanan provided 10 points and nine rebounds for the Cardinals, who will face fourth-seeded Michigan in Monday's title tilt.

The Wolverines bested Syracuse 72-68 in Saturday's second national semifinal.

Cleanthony Early paced the ninth-seeded Shockers (30-9) with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Carl Hall (13 points, five rebounds) and Ron Baker (11, eight) also reached double figures for Wichita State.

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