Wisconsin takes down Kentucky in Final Four, 71-64

By JEFF WASHBURN THE SPORTS XCHANGE

10 years ago

The Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after beating the Kentucky Wildcats 71-64 in the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players react to a three-pointer during the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. Wisconsin won 71-64. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players react on the bench during the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. Wisconsin won 71-64. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) drives against Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semifinal game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) dunks the ball in front of Wisconsin Badgers guard Zak Showalter (3) during the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Chris Steppig/NCAA Photos-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports)

Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) hits a three-point shot over Kentucky Wildcats forward Marcus Lee (00) to end the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)

Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) dunks against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari speaks with forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) during the first halfof the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan reacts against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) looks to shoot against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) controls the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 5, 2015. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

INDIANAPOLIS — Frank Kaminsky scored 20 points and Sam Dekker added 16 as third-ranked Wisconsin stunned No. 1-ranked and previously unbeaten Kemtucky 71-64 on Saturday night in an NCAA Tournament semifinal in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Wisconsin outscored Kentucky 13-4 in the final 4:26 to rally from a 60-56 deficit. Dekker’s 3-pointer with 1:41 to play broke a 60-60 tie and his free throw with 1:06 to go gave Wisconsin a 64-60 lead.

Forward Carl-Anthony Towns led Kentucky (38-1) with 16 points and guard Andrew Harrison added 13.

Kentucky used a 16-4 run to take a 60-56 lead with 6:34 to go but scored only one more field gol and only four points the rest of the way.

Wisconsin (36-3) iced it with free throws from guard Bronson Koenig and Kaminsky in the final 24.5 seconds.

Koenig and forward Nigel Hayes each added 12 points for Wisconsin, which will play Duke in Monday night’s national championship game. The Badgers, who lost a regular-season game to Duke, shot 47.9 percent from the field (23 of 48) against the Wildcats.

Kentucky, which defeated Wisconsin in the 2014 Final Four, shot 48.1 percent from the floor (26 of 54) but was outrebounded 34-22. Guard Aaron Harrison added 12 points for Kentucky, which most recently won the NCAA title in 2012.

Koenig’s jumper just before the buzzer pulled Wisconsin even at 36 at halftime despite Kentucky shooting 60 percent from the field (15 of 25) during the first 20 minutes.

Andrew Harrison led the Wildcats with 11 in the first half and Kaminsky had nine for Wisconsin.

Consecutive field goals from guard Devin Booker and Harrison got Kentucky within 30-27 with 4:02 left in the half.

Kentucky grabbed a quick 5-0 lead at the start of the game, but Wisconsin battled back, tying the score at 9 on Dekker’s second field goal with 15:49 to play in a fast-paced first half.

With the score tied at 11, Wisconsin mounted a 7-3 burst to lead 18-14 with 11:27 left in the half. A Kaminsky 3-pointer with 10:33 to go gave the Badgers a 21-14 advantage and Kentucky coach John Calipari called a timeout. At that point, Wisconsin was outrebounding Kentucky 10-2.

The Wisconsin lead grew to 23-14 before Andrew Harrison scored with 8:29 left in the half for Kentucky.

NOTES: Wisconsin, which is playing in its 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament, received a No. 1 seed for the first time in school history … Entering Saturday night’s game, the Badgers had a school season-record 35 victories, the fourth time since 2007 that Wisconsin has won at least 30 games. During that stretch, only Kansas (six) has more 30-plus victory seasons …Wisconsin’s 35 victories are the second most all time by a Big Ten team in a season. In 2004-2005, Illinois won 37 games. The 2006-2007 Ohio State team also won 35. … Before playing Kentucky, the Badgers led the nation in fewest fouls per game (12.4), fewest turnovers (7.4) and fewest opposing free throw attempts per game (11.6). … Kentucky is playing in its 17th Final Four, second most in NCAA history. … As the Associated Press’ No. 1 team, Kentucky had won 60 of its past 62 games. … Kentucky is making an NCAA-best 54th tournament appearance.