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For Wildcats, Perfectly Thrilling

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ST. LOUIS - In a memorable, spirited and weighty early-round N.C.A.A. tournament matchup, Kentucky rallied to defeat previously unbeaten Wichita State, 78-76, on Sunday to advance to the Round of 16. Played in an atmosphere reminiscent of a championship game, it was a taut, seesaw affair that came down to a last shot that would have won the game for the top-seeded Shockers.


Instead, the shot banged off the rim, ending the Shockers' winning streak at 35 games. Kentucky's powerhouse all-freshman starting lineup advanced in the Midwest Region, the eighth-seeded Wildcats (26-10) eliminating the more experienced Wichita State.


The game left both teams drained and the coaches cognizant of the titanic nature of the contest, even if it was only in the Round of 32.


'You all know this was an Elite Eight game,' Kentucky Coach John Calipari told reporters. 'The winner of this game should have gone to the Final Four.'


Wichita State Coach Gregg Marshall said: 'We put on a wonderful show. They played one play better.'


Wichita State led by 4 points with about four minutes left when Kentucky began to wear down the Shockers' interior defense, driving to the basket and going to the foul line repeatedly.


Four consecutive free throws by Kentucky gave the Wildcats a 77-74 lead, but Wichita State's Cleanthony Early made two foul shots with 10 seconds remaining. Kentucky's Andrew Harrison then made the first of two free throws but missed the second. The Shockers grabbed the rebound and called timeout near their bench with three seconds left.


On the ensuing play, Wichita State tried to get the ball to their best 3-point shooters, Early and Ron Baker, but Kentucky's defense was smothering them. The ball went to guard Fred VanVleet, who lofted a shot from just behind the 3-point line beyond the top of the key. The shot glanced off the side of the rim, ending the game.


'Just a tremendous game,' Calipari said.


Wildcats point guard Andrew Harrison, who played with a sprained right elbow, added, 'It was a joy to be a part of it.'


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