Live: Kentucky beats Kansas 67-59 to win national championship (original) (raw)

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome will appropriately be full of blue with two of college basketball's blue-blood programs meeting for the national title Monday night.

No. 1 Kentucky enters with a 37-2 record and player of the year Anthony Davis. Kansas, which is 32-6, will counter with All-American forward Thomas Robinson.

The Wildcats and Jayhawks met on Nov. 15 with Kentucky taking a 75-65 victory at Madison Square Garden in the second game for both teams.

Erick Smith will keep you updated on all the action. You can also chat up the game on Twitter: @erick_smith.

MORE: Who has the edge in the title game?

PHOTOS: Images from the title game?

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Game over: Plenty of heroes for Kentucky. Doron Lamb had a game-high 22 points, including a pair of big three-pointers midway through the second half that quelled one of the runs by Kansas.

Marquis Teague also delivered a big three and two clutch free throws in the final minutes. He finished with 14.

And Anthony Davis didn't score much - just six points on 1-for-10 shooting - but was dominant on defense. He contributed 16 rebounds, five assists and six blocks.

0:00 left, second half: Kansas misses a three and the clock runs out. Kentucky is your national champion for 2012 after a 67-59 victory. It's the first title for John Calipari. Game effort by the Jayhawks, who missed a ton of easy shots that could have pulled them closer. They rallied within five late.

0:17 left, second half: Anthony Davis makes his presence felt as he forces a travel by Elijah Robinson, who was attempting a three-pointer as Davis flew out at him. Doron Lamb drains two free throws. It's 67-59. Wildcats seconds away from their eighth national title.

0:39 left, second half: Tyshawn Taylor scores to run his total to 19 points. Kansas uses its final timeout. Kentucky leads 65-59. Foul upcoming by Jayhawks.

0:53 left, second half: Kansas turns the ball over and is forced to foul Marquis Teague. The freshman delivers a pair of free throws to make the score 65-57. Teague has been clutch in the final few minutes.

1:11 left, second half: Timeout by Kentucky after Anthony Davis hits the second of two free throws. Wildcats have a 63-57 advantage. Biggest possession of the game for Kansas upcoming. A three would be great, but any points put pressure on Kentucky to make free throws in final minute.

1:37 left, second half: Kentucky was up by 10. Elijah Johnson responds with a three-pointer, and then Thomas Robinson hits a pair of free throws. It's surprisingly 62-57 and lots of pressure on Kentucky.

2:50 left, second half: Kentucky had gone more than seven minutes with just one field goal, then Marquis Teague drills a three-pointer. Wildcats with some breathing room at 62-52.

3:52 left, second half: Hold the phone. Tyshawn Taylor with six quick points, including his first three-pointer of the tournament and then a transition layup and a foul shot. Kansas within 59-50 and Thomas Robinson set for one-and-one. Still time for a comeback with final timeout.

5:14 left, second half: And there's the first field goal for Anthony Davis on a 18-foot jumper. Kentucky pushes its advantage to 59-44. Dire time for Kansas.

6:02 left, second half: Thomas Robinson again misses at point-blank range out of the timeout. Terence Jones then gets fouled on a drive to the basket. He hits one free throw. Kentucky now ahead 57-44.

6:50 left, second half: Kansas will have ball after media timeout. A couple more misses at close range could have pulled the Jayhawks to 10. Kentucky's lead is 56-44. Still no field goals for Anthony Davis. He has three points, 15 rebounds and six blocks.

8:57 left, second half: Travis Releford hits 1-of-2 free throws. Kansas with three quick points to get to 54-41. Still in striking distance. More needed on the offensive end, though.

10:00 left, second half: Doron Lamb turns the momentum switch for Kentucky as Doron Lamb hits consecutive three-points. Wildcats go ahead 54-38 and it's looking bleak for Kansas after squandering opportunities to get within single digits. Lamb leads all scorers with 20 points.

11:12 left, second half: Second media timeout comes after a Marquis Teague miss goes out of bounds. Kansas ball with the ability to get within single digits. Jayhawks down just 48-38 with the help of their defense that has forced six turnovers in the second half.

12:28 left, second half: Thomas Robinson rebounds and dunks. Kansas within 10 at 46-36. Kentucky's offense struggling in second half so far. Will the Wildcats start to get tight here?

13:52 left, second half: Give it to Kansas. They won't fold. Elijah Johnson follows a Tyshawn Taylor miss for two point then scores in transition. That's four quick points off turnovers for the Jayhawks. Kentucky calls timeout with lead at 46-34.

14:47 left, second half.: Microcosm of the game in the last 30 seconds for Kansas. Thomas Robinson misses an easy basket on offense. Then he is careless with the ball after a rebound and Anthony Davis pokes it away. Terence Jones recovers for a dunk to put Kentucky ahead 46-30.

15:30 left, second half: Doron Lamb's tip in is the first points of the half for Kentucky. Kansas wasn't able to take advantage on offense. It's 43-30 as we head to the first media timeout. Anthony Davis headed to the line for two shots as he tries for his first points of the game.

17:00 left, second half: Kentucky still hasn't scored in the second half after a series of inside misses by Terence Jones and Anthony Davis. Kansas has crept within 41-30.

18:55 left, second half: Thomas Robinson scores inside for Kansas and the Jayhawks get the first points in the second half. Kentucky leads 41-29, though Kansas is on an 8-2 run.

20:00 left, second half: History is going to have to be Kansas' side if it wants to win the title. The biggest halftime deficit overcome in a title game is 10 by Kentucky against Utah in 1998.

Second half starts with the Wildcats ahead 41-27.

Halftime: Some stats for the first half and it is no surprise that Kentucky is dominating the box score as much as the scoreboard.

Kentucky's Doron Lamb and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist lead all scorers with 12 and 11 points. Wildcats are shooting 16-of-30 (53.3%) and winning the rebound battle 22-14.

Anthony Davis is scoreless, but has nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Kansas is just 11-of-33 (33.3%) from the field. Thomas Robinson is just 3-of-11 and has 8 points along with Tyshawn Taylor. No points from the Jayhawks bench.

Halftime: Tyshawn Taylor drives to hit a layup at the buzzer to pull Kansas within 41-27 at the break. Jayhawks did score the last four points so they have some momentum going into the locker room. And they have pulled off some big comebacks this tournament. But this will be a huge challenge.

0:52 seconds left, first half: Finally a third field goal for Thomas Robinson as he hits a layup. But Kansas trails 41-25.

2:31 left, first half: We are headed to UNLV-Duke territory it seems. Kentucky now up 39-21 after a Doron Lamb jumper. Kansas has seen its offense stalled as the Wildcats inside size is denying any easy buckets for Thomas Robinson or Jeff Withey.

3:33 left, first half: It keeps getting better for Kentucky and worse for Kansas. Darius Miller hits a three to push the Wildcats ahead 37-21. Miller's basket is the first for a reserve in this game. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis has not scored...but he has contributed eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

5:29 left, first half: Kansas has gone scoreless for more than three minutes without a basket, and Kentucky is taking advantage. Doron Lamb drains a jumper to make the score 34-19.

6:52 left, first half: Media timeout comes at a good time for Kansas as the Jayhawks have to find a way to slow down the Kentucky offense. Too many transition points and too much penetration against its defense. Marquis Teague and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist lead all scores with 9 each. Wildcats winning the rebound battle 18-8. Thomas Robinson is just 2-of-8 for Kansas.

7:14 left, first half: Another timeout for Kansas as Kentucky extends its lead to 31-19 on a open three by Marquis Teague off a loose ball scramble. Anthony Davis had his third block of the game on the previous possession.

9:18 left, first half: Kansas now has its largest lead with Doron Lamb hitting a reverse layup off a blown defensive assignment by Kansas. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist then drains a long jumper. It's 27-17.

10:03 left, first half: Kansas has a response as a deliberate possession leads to a three-pointer by Travis Releford. Second television timeout comes shortly after Kentucky's lead is trimmed to 23-17.

10:46 left, first half: The size and athleticism of Kentucky is proving too much for Kansas. Terence Jones drives for a dunk then a pair of missed layups by Jayhawks against the height of the Wildcats lead to a transition layup by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Jayhawks call timeout with the score 23-14.

12:35 left, first half: Jeff Withey responds with a three-point play after a foul on Terence Jones. Kansas pulls within 17-12. But Withey fouls Michael Kidd Gilchrist on the other end, and Kentucky pushes the lead to seven.

13:39 left, first half: Kentucky gets the first four points out of the timeout on a Terrence Jones dunk and two free throws by Doron Lamb. Wildcats lead 17-9 and it's already danger time for Kansas. Response needed quickly.

14:18 left, first half: Mercifully there is a timeout on the floor for both teams. A chance to rest after a wild up-and-down first six minutes. Kentucky leads 13-9 with each of its starters on the board except player of the year Anthony Davis, who has missed his first three shots.

15:28 left, first half: They're playing at a furious pace which favors the athletes of Kentucky. Doron Lamb's driving layup in transition has the Wildcats ahead 11-7.

16:44 left, first half: Marquis Teague hits a layup and a jumper for Kentucky and the Wildcats are out from 7-5. Good tempo between the teams. Lots of nervous energy being expended early.

18:02 left, first half: Kentucky took a brief lead on a Terence Jones jumper. But then Elijah Johnson responds with a three-pointer. Kansas back ahead 5-3.

18:48 left, first half: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist takes a hard fall on his shoulder after being fouled by Elijah Johnson. The Kentucky forward gets up and hits 1-of-2 free throws. It's 2-1 Kansas.

19:47 left, first half.: Kansas wastes little time scoring the game's first points with Tyshawn Taylor driving for a layup. Jeff Withey then blocks a shot by Terrence Jones on the other end. Good start for the Jayhawks.

20:00 left first half.: Kansas wins the opening tip are we are under way!

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9:24 p.m.: Starting lineups are concluded. Early indications are the presence of Kentucky fans surpasses fans from Kansas. Much louder roars for the Wildcats.

9:18 p.m.: Both teams are on the floor in the minutes before tip off. The Fray is preparing to sign the National Anthem. After that, we'll have the lineup announcements and the start of the game.

9:15 p.m.: While it is dry inside, there are some severe storms in the New Orleans area tonight. CBS reported that some of the lights in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome went out early. Hopefully there will be no power issues for the next two hours.

9:10 p.m.: Bill Self and John Calipari will be facing off for the second time in a national title game. Self got the best of Calipari when Kansas beat Memphis in 2008.

Here's a photo of Self addressing the Jayhawks before the game.

9:05 p.m.: Lots of former Kentucky and Kansas players in the NBA will be watching tonight. Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics tweeted a picture of himself in his Jayhawks uniform about 30 minutes ago.

9:00 p.m.: Both Kansas and Kentucky are on court warming up. Lots of blue on site as expected. A sign in the Kentucky section says "Couches Burning Soon" - a nod to the riots after the school's defeat of Louisville on Saturday.

8:53 p.m.: About 30 minutes from the official tip time at 9:23 p.m.

Some details from the first game between the teams. All five Kentucky starters scored in double figures with Doron Lamb leading the way with 17 points. Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson were the only double figure scorers for the Jayhawks, who shot just 34%.

8:40 p.m.: The three officials selected for the game Mark Whitehead, Verne Harris and Mike Stuart. Whitehead called the first game between Kentucky and Kansas. He and Stuart primarily work in the Big 12. Harris typically does games in the western part of the country.

8:30 p.m.: Kentucky and Kansas have combined for 10 national title between the schools with the Wildcats in second all-time with seven behind the 11 of UCLA.

The Wildcats and Jayhawks rank first and second in victories with the former leading with 2,089 and the latter close behind at 2,070.