It was a battle of the Greensboro, North Carolina, Wildcats on Sunday afternoon as No. 3 seed Kansas State and No. 6 Kentucky took the court. After a long back and forth game, Kansas State is the one to advance after defeating Kentucky, 75-69.
This is Kansas State’s first Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2018.
With just under three minutes to play, Kentucky’s Cason Wallace made a layup that gave them a 62-61 lead, but Kansas State was ready to answer that basket.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Cason Wallace #22 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Ismael Massoud received a pass from Markquis Nowell and hit a 3-pointer to regain the lead and splashed it for a 64-62 lead.
After a miss by Kentucky’s Chris Livingston trying to match Massoud’s three, Kansas State got back on the court and gave their star player, Keyontae Johnson, a chance to pull away from Kentucky for a bit.
MARCH MADNESS BROADCAST URGES PRODUCER NOT TO SHOW REPEAT OF UCLA STAR TWISTING HER ANKLE
Johnson got their one-on-one matchup and didn’t waste the opportunity, as he stepped back and hit a 3-pointer from the right wing and hit it to put Kansas State up, 67-62.
Kentucky would be unable to respond, leading them to commit intentional fouls in hopes that Kansas State would miss their free throws. But Nowell and Desi Sills combined to go 8-for-8 to finish the game despite Kentucky trying their best to get back in.
Antonio Reeves #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives against Desi Sills #13 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half of the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Nowell was the leading scorer for Kansas State, as the senior point guard dropped 27 points (he averaged 16.8 this season) with nine assists and two rebounds. Johnson also finished with 13 points, four boards and three assists.
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON’S COACH GIVES PEP TALK, ASSISTANT ALLEGES FLORIDA ATLANTIC TRASH TALK BEFORE THE BIG GAME
On Kentucky’s stat sheet, Antonio Reeves, the team’s second leading scorer at 14.6 points per game, was freezing when he picked up the ball. He was 1-for-15 from the floor, including 9-for-10 missed 3-point attempts. That certainly didn’t help head coach John Calipari.
But Wallace stepped up with 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting with nine boards and four assists. The team’s leading scorer, Oscar Tshiebwe, had a double-double with 25 points and 18 rebounds.
Desi Sills #13 of the Kansas State Wildcats reacts during the second half of the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
As Kentucky heads home, Kansas State faces the winner of No. 2 seed Marquette and No. 7 seed Michigan State in the Sweet 16.