NCAA Title Game: Kentucky Beats Kansas 67-59 To Win National Championship
Doron Lamb scored 22 points, and Kentucky held off a spirited Kansas rally to beat the Jayhawks 67-59 in the NCAA title game in New Orleans on Monday night. The win gave the Wildcats (38-2) their eighth national championship in school history and first since 1998.
After a first half that saw them surge ahead by as much as 18 points, Kentucky watched Kansas (32-7) close to within 62-57 with 1:37 to play. However the Wildcats closed out the game by going 5-of-7 from the free throw line in the last minute, while the Jayhawks were unable to connect from behind the 3-point line.
Heralded Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis had just six points, but he grabbed 16 rebounds and tied a championship-game record with six blocks. Teammate Marquis Teague added 14 points for the Wildcats.
Tyshawn Taylor led Kansas with 19 points, while Jayhawks’ forward Thomas Robinson had 18 points and 17 rebounds. Kansas’ center Jeff Withey had seven rebounds and four blocks in addition to his five points.
The victory gave Kentucky coach John Calipari his first national title. In previous years, Calipari had taken Massachusetts, Memphis and the Wildcats to the Final Four without winning a championship.