Kentucky Wildcats secured a thrilling 84-75 win over Illinois Fighting Illini in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32. Here’s a breakdown of the box score:
Koby Brea (Kentucky): 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals
Otega Oweh (Kentucky): 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks
Lamont Butler (Kentucky): 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists
Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois): 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists
Coleman Hawkins (Illinois): 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks
Key Statistics:
Kentucky forced 14 turnovers, converting them into 26 points
The Wildcats had 14 steals and blocked 3 shots
Amari Williams contributed 8 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks
Illinois outrebounded Kentucky 38-35
Game-Changing Moments:
Ansley Almonor’s three-pointer gave Kentucky a 35-29 lead with 4:12 remaining in the first half
Lamont Butler’s clutch free throws and driving layups helped seal the win, as Kentucky went on a 10-2 run in the final 2:15
Koby Brea’s dunk with 1:05 remaining put the exclamation mark on the Wildcats’ victory
With this victory, Kentucky advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. The Wildcats will face off against the winner of the UConn-St. Mary’s matchup in the regional semifinals.
