The North Carolina Tar Heels are going to the Final Four for the second straight year. After blowing a late lead thanks to a furious rally from the Kentucky Wildcats, Luke Maye stepped up and hit a clutch shot with 0.3 seconds left to give UNC the 75-73 win.
Malik Monk (@AhmadMonk) buries the three to tie the game for Kentucky...and Luke Maye (@luke_maye) comes back to win the game for UNC! pic.twitter.com/vcptdTsBtz
— Chat Sports NCAA (@ChatNCAA) March 26, 2017
A 12-0 run had given North Carolina a seven-point lead with less than a minute to play, but Kentucky fought back with a quick 9-2 run of their own, which was capped by Malik Monk's three-pointer in the video above. We appeared destined for overtime, but Maye had other ideas.
Unlike the first matchup of the season between these two, this game was about the role players and unsung heroes for each team. Maye finished with a career-high 17 points off the bench for the Heels, while Kentucky has given an unexpected 12 points from reserve center Isaac Humphries.
Before the craziness at the end of the game, North Carolina had control for the first 30 minutes. Their lead grew to as many as eight points on several occasions in the first half, and routinely had an answer for everything Kentucky threw at them.
Justin Jackson (@JJacks_44) sparks a UNC run with this four-point play! #Elite8 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/XVemJfpibg
— Chat Sports NCAA (@ChatNCAA) March 26, 2017
However, with 10 minutes to go in the game, Kentucky went on a 17-6 run to take a 64-59 lead, putting themselves in the driver's seat for the first time all game. That was when Carolina went on their 12-0 run.
Kennedy Meeks had a big game on the glass for Carolina with seven points and a career-high 17 rebounds, while Justin Jackson's 19 points led all scorers in the game. He also played excellent defense all game on Monk.
Monk, who scored 47 points in the first matchup of the season against UNC, was held to just 12 points on 4-10 shooting. Bam Adebayo led Kentucky with 13 points and seven rebounds, while De'Aaron Fox had 13 points and three assists.
North Carolina now advances to play Oregon in the Final Four on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.
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