LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Aaron Harrison scored 13 points, Trey Lyles added 11 with 11 rebounds and top-ranked Kentucky outworked eighth-seeded Cincinnati for a 64-51 victory Saturday to remain undefeated and reach the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.
Despite the Wildcats’ sixth straight double-digit win, they faced their toughest test in a while and didn’t seem totally in control until the final minutes. Kentucky certainly expected a battle from the physical, pesky Bearcats and worked hard for every shot and rebound in an intense contest.
But the Wildcats (36-0) succeeded by making life difficult on both ends for Cincinnati, holding the Bearcats to 32 percent shooting including just 24 percent in the second half. Kentucky blocked six shots after halftime and came up with several key rebounds.
The Wildcats move on to face the Maryland-West Virginia winner in the Midwest Regional on Thursday in Cleveland.
Troy Caupain had 13 points for Cincinnati (23-11).