Kentucky Falls to Tennessee in NCAA Sweet 16
Lamont Butler scored 18 points and had six rebounds, but third-seeded Kentucky lost to second-seeded Tennessee 78-65 on Friday night in Indianapolis.
Kentucky (24-12) got 14 points from Amari Williams and 13 from Otega Oweh. The Cats had made 12 three-point baskets in each of their two previous wins over the Vols this season, but UK was only able to make 6 of 15 on Friday night. UT held the advantage in second-chance points (19-5) and bench points (23-6)
Tennessee got on the board first with a pair of free throws, but a Koby Brea three gave the Cats a 3-2 lead early. After a UT basket, Andrew Carr hit one of two at the line to tie the game at 4-4. The Vols would take the lead back on a Zakai Ziegler three-point play, and a Zielger three, giving UT a 10-4 advantage.
A Butler three cut the deficit in half, but Tennessee answered with a three of its own to lead 13-7. The Vols would add a free throw and a three to lead 17-7 before Butler scored to get the Cats within eight. After the Vols scored again, Williams made it 19-11. However, UT scored on the other end to stretch its lead to 21-11.
Williams scored at the rim to get the Cats within eight and Oweh made two free throws to make it 21-15. However, UT scored the next six points to lead by 12. A Williams dunk made it 27-17 but the Vols hit two free throws to again lead by 12.
A Williams free throw got the Cats one point closer but UT scored again to lead by 13. Williams scored at the rim to make it 31-20 but again, the Vols answered with eight in a row to lead 39-20.
An Oweh free throw stopped the 8-0 UT run and an Oweh layup cut the UT lead to 39-23. After the Vols scored, Oweh hit a basket to make it 41-25. UT scored again but just before the halftime buzzer, Collin Chanlder hit a three, making it 43-28, which would be the halftime score.
The Cats scored first in the second half on a Butler baske3t. After UT scored, Carr got a basket and the UT lead was 45-32. The Vols scored the next four before a Carr dunk cut the UT lead to 49-34. Another Carr dunk got the Cats even closer, but the Vols got a bucket to lead 51-36.
Two Brea free throws got the Cats within 13, but UT scored again to lead 53-38. An Oweh steal and dunk got UK closer, but UT answered again. A Brandon Garrison three-point play made it 55-43. UT would hit a three before Williams scored to cut the deficit to 58-45, but the Vols scored again to lead 60-45.
A Butler three got the Cats within 12 but UT scored six in a row to lead 66-48. From there, the Cats would get no closer than 13, including at the final buzzer.
