CHICAGO -- Guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk scored a team-high 17 points, and No. 4 Kansas outlasted No. 7 Kentucky for a 65-61 win on Tuesday night at the United Center.
Center Udoka Azubuike scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Jayhawks. Guard Malik Newman contributed 12 points and nine rebounds for Kansas (2-0).
Forward Kevin Knox scored 20 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Guard Hamidou Diallo added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists for Kentucky (2-1).
Kansas led by one when Newman hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to increase the lead to 61-57 with 2:10 left. Kentucky climbed back within two points on a layup by Knox to set up a wild final minute.
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Knox missed a jump shot that would have tied the game with 18 seconds remaining, and Kansas made four free throws in the closing seconds to seal the victory.
The score was even at 55 with five minutes to go. Forward Nick Richards gave Kentucky a 57-55 advantage with his first basket of the game, but Kansas quickly pulled back even on a jump shot by Mykhailiuk.
Neither team led by more than four points during the first 10 minutes of the second half. Guard Lagerald Vick provided a highlight-reel play when he grabbed a defensive rebound and fired a one-handed strike down the middle of the court to Mykhailiuk, who caught the pass in stride and threw down a slam dunk.
Kansas established a 34-33 edge at halftime.
The Jayhawks jumped out to a 20-9 lead in the first seven minutes of the game thanks to a blend of outside shooting and production in the paint. Kentucky responded with a 19-8 run to even the score at 28 late in the first half.
NOTES: Kansas F Billy Preston did not play as the school investigates a single-vehicle crash that he was involved in Saturday night. No one was injured, but administrators want "a clearer financial picture specific to the vehicle," according to a statement released by Kansas coach Bill Self. ... Kentucky F PJ Washington was limited to two points and two rebounds two days after he posted the team's first double-double of the season against Vermont. ... Self matched Roy Williams for second place in school history with 418 victories. Phog Allen is first with 590 wins.
