ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kentucky has ended Wichita State’s bid to become the first team since the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to record an undefeated season in NCAA men’s basketball.
The Harrison twice combined for 39 points and the eighth-seeded Wildcats erased a nine-point, second-half deficit to beat the No. 1 Shockers 78-76. Andrew Harrison led the way with 20 points, Aaron Harrison finished with 19 and Julius Randle added 13 and 10 rebounds.
Wichita State had a chance to tie or win after Andrew Harrison missed a free throw on Kentucky’s final possession. The Shockers called time out with 3.2 seconds left before Fred VanVleet missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Cleanthony Early had a game-high 31 points for Wichita State, which became the first team in NCAA men’s basketball history to open a season 35-0 when it won its second-round game.
The win sets up an all-Kentucky matchup in the Midwest Regional at Indianapolis. The Wildcats will take on fourth seed Louisville.
It was a double-dose of losing for the state of Kansas in the tournament. No. 10 Stanford rallied in the second half and knocked off the second-seeded Kansas Jayhawks 60-57. Dwight Powell had 15 points and seven rebounds, for the Cardinal, who are in the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years. Chasson Randle finished with 13 points, six steals and four assists as Stanford advanced to play No. 11 Dayton.
Freshman Andrew Wiggins had just four points on 1-for-6 shooting with four turnovers in his final college game for Kansas.
Eleventh seed Tennessee cruised into the regional semis and will take on No. 2 Michigan at Indianapolis. Josh Richardson poured in 26 points and Jarnell Stokes had an impressive double-double as the Vols hammered No. 14 Mercer 83-63. Stokes finished with 17 points and 18 boards, for Tennessee, which has won its first three games of the tournament by an average of 16 points.
