UK follows with first-round exit

Brown’s 19 points and 11 rebounds led a balanced-as-usual offense, and No. 3-seeded Xavier avoided a big upset by rallying to overcome fading Georgia 73-61 on Thursday in a first-round West Regional game.

Super-sub Josh Duncan scored 20 for the Musketeers (28-6), who trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half but conjured up a 22-6 run to come back. Xavier used a significant discrepancy in free throws – it went 27-for-33 from the line, while Georgia was 3-for-5 ‘ and tied a school record for victories in a season.

Georgia (17-17) simply could not sustain the energy and effort it summoned during last week’s remarkable run to the SEC tournament title. The Bulldogs were 13-16 before the conference tourney, yet somehow won four games in as many days ‘ including three in a span of about 30 hours ‘ to save coach Dennis Felton’s job and extend their season.

Xavier will play the Purdue-Baylor winner Saturday.

Led by Terrance Woodbury’s 16 points and do-everything guard Sundiata Gaines’ 13 points and six assists, Georgia began the afternoon displaying far more energy than could rightly have been expected. After all, the Bulldogs were forced to play two games in a single day en route to earning the school’s first NCAA berth since 2002.

With Xavier looking a bit uncertain for stretches, Georgia pulled out to a 35-26 halftime advantage. The lead grew to 43-32 with 16 minutes left after a baseline jumper by Woodbury, who let out a “Woooo!” yell that was answered by loud barks from his team’s fans.

And that, pretty much, was that for Georgia.

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Marquette 74, Kentucky 66

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) ‘ Jerel McNeal and Marquette cut short Kentucky’s record 49th NCAA tournament appearance.

McNeal scored 20 points and Wesley Matthews hit eight free throws in the final 31 seconds to help the Golden Eagles beat the Wildcats 74-66 in the first round of the South Regional on Thursday.

Marquette overcame 35 points by Kentucky senior Joe Crawford, who matched a career high before fouling out. Ramel Bradley added 19 for the Wildcats.

Sixth-seeded Marquette (25-9) earned its first NCAA tournament victory since 2003, when it beat Kentucky in the regional final to go to the Final Four.

Marquette had too many weapons against the outmanned Wildcats (18-13), who played without leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer Patrick Patterson. Kentucky went 2-3 after losing the star freshman to a season-ending ankle injury.

As it turned out, Crawford was almost enough for the Wildcats.

Kentucky cut it to 66-63 on Crawford’s 3-pointer from the top of the key with 38 seconds left.

After Matthews hit two free throws, Bradley hit a 3-pointer from the corner to get the Wildcats within two with 22 seconds remaining.

Matthews made two more free throws, then stole the ball and hit two more from the line to ice the game.