Kansas State takes down Kentucky, advances to first Sweet 16 since 2018

It was a conflict of Wildcats from Greensboro, North Carolina, connected Sunday day erstwhile No. 3 seed Kansas State and No. 6 Kentucky took nan court. After a long, back-and-forth game, Kansas State is nan 1 moving connected aft defeating Kentucky, 75-69. 

This is Kansas State's first Sweet 16 quality successful nan NCAA Tournament since 2018. 

With conscionable nether 3 minutes to play, Kentucky’s Cason Wallace made a layup that gave them a 62-61 lead, but Kansas State was fresh to reply that bucket.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Cason Wallace #22 of nan Kentucky Wildcats reacts during nan 2nd half against nan Kansas State Wildcats successful nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine The Fieldhouse astatine Greensboro Coliseum connected March 19, 2023 successful Greensboro, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Ismael Massoud took a walk from Markquis Nowell and put up a three-pointer to return nan lead backmost and splashed it for nan 64-62 advantage.

After a miss from Chris Livingston of Kentucky, trying to lucifer Massoud’s three, Kansas State went correct backmost down nan level and gave their prima player, Keyontae Johnson, nan chance to abstracted a spot from Kentucky. 

MARCH MADNESS BROADCASTER URGES PRODUCER NOT TO SHOW REPLAY OF UCLA STAR TWISTING ANKLE

Johnson sewage his one-on-one matchup and didn’t squander nan opportunity, arsenic he stepped backmost and rained a three-pointer from nan correct helping and deed it to put Kansas State up, 67-62. 

Kentucky wouldn’t beryllium capable to answer, which led them to commencement intentionally fouling pinch nan dream Kansas State would miss their free throws. But Nowell and Desi Sills were a mixed 8-for-8 to extremity nan crippled contempt Kentucky trying their champion to get backmost successful it. 

Antonio Reeves #12 of nan Kentucky Wildcats drives against Desi Sills #13 of nan Kansas State Wildcats during nan 2nd half successful nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine The Fieldhouse astatine Greensboro Coliseum connected March 19, 2023 successful Greensboro, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Nowell was Kansas State’s starring scorer arsenic nan elder constituent defender dropped 27 points – he averaged 16.8 this play – pinch 9 assists and 2 rebounds. Johnson besides vanished pinch 13 points, 4 boards and 3 assists. 

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON COACH GIVES PEP TALK, ASSISTANT ALLEGES FLORIDA ATLANTIC TRASH TALK BEFORE BIG GAME

On nan Kentucky stat sheet, Antonio Reeves, nan team’s second-leading scorer pinch 14.6 points per game, was crystal acold erstwhile he put nan shot up. He went 1-of-15 from nan floor, including 9 of 10 missed three-point attempts. That surely didn’t thief caput coach John Calipari.

But Wallace stepped up pinch 21 points connected 9-of-11 shooting pinch 9 boards and 4 assists. The team’s starring scorer, Oscar Tshiebwe, recorded a double-double pinch 25 points and 18 rebounds.

Desi Sills #13 of nan Kansas State Wildcats reacts during nan 2nd half Kentucky Wildcats successful nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine The Fieldhouse astatine Greensboro Coliseum connected March 19, 2023 successful Greensboro, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

While Kentucky heads home, Kansas State goes connected to look nan victor of No. 2 seed Marquette and No. 7 seed Michigan State successful nan Sweet 16.