Kentucky guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22) shoots against Buffalo during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)
Republished March 17, 2018 - 5:42 PM
Original Publication Date March 17, 2018 - 4:46 PM
BOISE, Idaho - Kentucky put an end to any upset talk on its watch Saturday, getting 27 points and a near-perfect shooting game from Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a 95-75 pullaway from 13th-seeded Buffalo.
Gilgeous-Alexander of Hamilton went 10 for 12 and made both of his 3-point attempts to send fifth-seeded Kentucky (26-10) to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.
Coming into the day, the basketball world was still reverberating from Maryland-Baltimore County's 16 vs. 1 stunner over Virginia the night before. Villanova and Duke both rolled early; the evening slate started with Kentucky, and the Wildcats, with their all-freshman starting lineup, trailed only once: 2-0.
It wasn't a runaway until the last 7 minutes.
Buffalo (27-9), which got here with a 21-point blowout over Arizona, twice trimmed a double-digit lead to five midway through the second half.
Gilgeous-Alexander answered both times — once with a 3-pointer to extend the lead to eight, then again a few minutes later with a three-point play that started a 12-2 run and put the game away.
Hamidou Diallo also went off — going 9 for 12 and scoring all but four of his 22 points in the second half while the Wildcats were turning this one into a laugher.
About that UMBC win — it could impact Kentucky more than you think. With Virginia and Arizona gone, the Wildcats came into the day seeded behind only Cincinnati and Tennessee in the South.
0-FER
Wes Clark had an electric day for the Bulls again, but it wasn't enough. He finished with 26 points but closed his career at 0-5 against the Wildcats. The first four losses came before he transferred away from Missouri.
3s PLEASE
After seeing its record 1,047-game streak of making a 3-pointer come to an end Thursday, Kentucky started all over. Quade Green hit one with 8:26 left in the first half to start anew. And coach John Calipari was proven correct. His team isn't that bad behind the arc. The Wildcats went 7 for 15
NEXT UP
The Wildcats play the winner of Sunday's game between Kansas State and UMBC in Atlanta next Thursday.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018