ATLANTA (AP) – Too much Kentucky. Too much history.
Chuck Hayes spun into the lane to hit the winning shot with 7.9 seconds left in overtime, sending the No. 4 Wildcats to the championship game of the Southeastern Conference tournament with a 79-78 victory over LSU on Saturday.
Brandon Bass hit a miraculous shot for the Tigers as the buzzer sounded in regulation, forcing overtime with the score tied at 70. LSU built a five-point lead in the extra period, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Wildcats and the weight of history.
Kentucky (25-4) will be going for its third straight SEC tournament title, its 11th in 14 years and 26th overall. LSU (20-9) has won it only once, way back in 1980.
Patrick Sparks hit a crucial 3-pointer from the corner to spark the Kentucky comeback, which was helped along when LSU’s Glen Davis missed a pair of free throws with 39 seconds left.
Kelenna Azubuike, who led the Wildcats with 19 points, drew a foul and made the first of two free throws to pull Kentucky to 78-77. When the second attempt clanked off the rim, Hayes swooped in grab the offensive rebound.
Kentucky called timeout and set up a play for its senior leader. The Wildcats worked the ball inside to Hayes, who spun around the 300-pound Davis and banked in the shot with his left hand.
LSU still had time to pull off the win, but Tack Minor drove wildly into the lane and lost the ball while trying to put up the shot. Appropriately, Hayes grabbed it as the horn sounded to send the Wildcats to the title game against Florida.
Once again, the Wildcats will have the record book on their side. The Gators have never won the SEC tournament, losing four times in the final.
Then again, Florida did beat Kentucky in the regular-season finale last weekend, pulling off a 53-52 upset in Gainesville.
Bass gave LSU a chance to knock off the Wildcats. After Kentucky missed three of four free throws in the final minute of regulation, the SEC player of the year took off down the court, pulled up just inside the 3-point line and lofted a jumper over Hayes’ outstretched arm.
The ball hit the back of the rim, then the backboard, then the rim two more times before dropping through as the buzzer sounded. Bass was mobbed by his teammates and actually ripped off his jersey to celebrate.
Of course, he had to put it back on for overtime.
LSU got a couple of fast-break layups for a 76-71 lead with 2? minutes left. That sent the Wildcats into desperation mode, and their sense of urgency paid off on the next possession.
Kentucky missed three shots underneath but fought for the offensive rebound each time. Finally, Bass fouled Hayes, who made both free throws.
Davis hit a couple of foul shots to restore the five-point cushion, but Sparks made his fifth 3-pointer of the game from deep in the corner. He finished with 17 points.
Antonio Hudson, who made four 3s, led LSU with 21 points. Bass had 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Kentucky freshman Joe Crawford, who briefly quit the team in January because he was upset about a lack of playing time, contributed a career-high 14 points. Most of them came early in the second half when the Wildcats’ bench kept them in the game.
