Kentucky's leading scorer blocked a shot to set up Tyler Herro's go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of a 62-58 victory over Houston after scoring 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting in his return from a sprained foot.
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| Second-seeded Kentucky holds off No. 3 Houston to advance to NCAA Tournament Elite Eight |
The final Sweet 16 game of 2019 certainly lived up to the hype as No. 2 seed Kentucky, enjoying the return of PJ Washington, held on to beat No. 3 seed Houston in a 62-58 thriller.
Having Washington back was a huge addition for the Wildcats, and that's not just because he's the team's leading scorer and best player. Washington, who made his first appearance in the tournament after missing the first weekend with a foot injury, made the defensive play of the game. With just over 30 seconds left in the action, Houston, already up a point, had a chance to add to its lead when Washington made a game-changing block. That led to Tyler Herro hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer in transition to give Kentucky a 60-58 lead.
NCAA Latest: Kentucky Holds off Houston Reach Regional Final
The Kentucky bench celebrates during the second half of a men's NCAA tournament college basketball Midwest Regional semifinal game against Houston, Friday, March 29, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo.