Kentucky manages to get past Northern Kentucky

Thomson Reuters
Updated

INDIANAPOLIS --- De'Aaron Fox scored 19 points and Malik Monk sank four clutch free throws during the final 30.3 seconds Friday night, lifting No. 2 seed Kentucky to a 79-70 South Regional victory over No. 15 seed Northern Kentucky in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Bam Adebayo added 15 points for the Wildcats (30-5) and Monk finished with 12.

Northern Kentucky (24-11) got within 75-68 with 32.3 seconds to play before Monk hit four consecutive free throws. Lavone Holland II led the Norse with a game-best 22 points and Carson Williams had 21 points.

Kentucky got 10 points from Adebayo and 10 from Fox to build a 38-24 halftime lead. The Wildcats enjoyed a 16-8 advantage in points in the paint, 9-2 in points off turnovers and 8-0 in fast-break points.

Kentucky shot 48.6 percent from the field (17 of 35) and limited Northern Kentucky to 24.3 percent shooting (9 of 37) from the floor.

Holland led the Norse with eight first-half points.

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