Jayhawks Finish Season as Runner-up's with Loss to Kentucky
04/03/2012

 Kentucky hangs on for eighth national title, 67-59
     Kentucky hit the jackpot with its roster full of possible NBA
lottery picks as the freshman-dominated Wildcats built an 18-point
lead in the first half and held off a furious Kansas rally, 67-59
to win the NCAA men's basketball title.
     Anthony Davis, Kentucky's talented freshman center, won the most
outstanding player award. Davis did everything but score -- netting
just six points, including four free throws. He made just 1 of 10
shots from the field.
     But Davis affected the outcome in so many other ways. He tied
the NCAA championship game record with six blocks, grabbed 16
rebounds, and also had five assists and three steals.
     Doron Lamb, a sophomore with first-round-draft-pick
possibilities, led the Wildcats with 22 points, including
back-to-back 3-pointers that put them up by 16 with 10 minutes
left.
     Kentucky survived despite shooting just 27 percent in the second
half. Kansas closed to within five with 1:37 left, but Kentucky
made five free throws down the stretch to seal it.
     The eight national titles Kentucky owns are second only to
UCLA's 11. This is Kentucky coach John Calipari's first title in
four trips to the Final Four with three different schools. Kentucky
finished 38-2.
     Tyshawn Taylor led Kansas with 19 points and Thomas Robinson
added 16 points and 17 rebounds. It's the sixth time the Jayhawks
have finished runner-up in the national title. Kansas finished
32-7.
     ``I don't think we lost,' Kansas coach Bill Self said
afterward. ``I think they just beat us.'


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