In a top 10 battle, two college basketball blue bloods played a classic. North Carolina rallied from 10 down in the second half to take a late lead but the Tar Heels couldn’t stop Kentucky’s Malik Monk, who scored 47 including a big three in the closing seconds to give the Wildcats a 103-100 victory.<\/p>\n
The Tar Heels, who trailed most of the way, were down 84-74 with less than eight minutes to play but got back in it on two three pointers by Luke Maye.<\/p>\n
With 3:45 left, Joel Berry, back from injury, drained a three to put the Heels within striking distance at 93-91. <\/p>\n
With three minutes left, Monk, who had been unstoppable, missed a double-teamed jumper and UNC’s Bradley was fouled. Bradley hit two free throws to tie it at 95-95 with 2:51 left.<\/p>\n
After a Kentucky turnover on a fastbreak, UNC’s Justin Jackson, who had a career-high 34 points, popped a three from the top of the key to give Carolina its first lead since the first four minutes of the game at 98-95.<\/p>\n
But Monk’s magic hadn’t fizzled and he came right back with a three within seconds to tie the game at 98 with 1:15 to go.<\/p>\n
UNC’s Isaiah Hicks, who was in foul trouble much of the game, threw a backdoor pass to Jackson, who scored and was fouled. He missed the free throw but Carolina led 100-98 with 44.8 seconds left.<\/p>\n
The Heels got a stop but couldn’t convert and Monk had another chance, working his way for a three over Hicks with 16.7 seconds left to give the lead back to the Wildcats at 101-100.<\/p>\n
After a Hicks miss on a turnaround jumper, Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox, who scored 24, hit a pair of free throws to make it 103-100.<\/p>\n
Carolina had a shot at the buzzer but Kenny Williams missed from the corner to end the game.<\/p>\n
Monk made open shots and made tough shots from beginning to end. “Malik was off the charts,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “He put on a show.”<\/p>\n
Berry said you can’t let a shooter like Monk get hot early. “We have to make him uncomfortable and we didn’t do that.”<\/p>\n