Kentucky tops Illinois, makes first Sweet 16 since 2019

MILWAUKEE — Kobe Brea had 23 points and Otega Oweh added 15 to pace third-seeded Kentucky to an 84-75 victory over No. 6 Illinois in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region on Sunday.Kentucky (24-11) will face second-seeded Tennessee in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Indianapolis.Kentucky hit its first five shots of the second half for a 10-0 run. Amari Williams turned into a steal into a breakaway jam to put the Wildcats up 47-32 to cap the run three minutes into the frame.Brea scored 10 consecutive points for Kentucky for a 70-54 lead with 9 1/2 minutes remaining.Kylan Boswell’s jumper from the right wing pulled the Illini within 74-68, but Andrew Carr countered with a drive to make it 76-68 with 1:13 left.The Wildcats hit eight free throws over the final 1:01 to preserve the victory and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.Boswell had 23 points, Tomislav Ivisic 19 and Kasparas Jakucionis 13 for the Illini (22-13).Kentucky scored 26 points off 14 Illinois turnovers and had 18 assists on its 32 field goals.Brea hit 10 of 16 shots, including 3 of 8 beyond the arc, and Oweh was 6 of 12. Lamont Butler added 14 points and Williams pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

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