WACO, TX - FEBRUARY 18: Josh Jackson #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks and teammate Landen Lucas #33 celebrate after Kansas defeated the Baylor Bears at the Ferrell Center on February 18, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Kansas won 67-65. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Malik Newman led the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks to a thrilling, 85-81 overtime victory over Duke in an NCAA Elite Eight matchup on Sunday with a 32-point performance.
With the win over the No. 2-seed Blue Devils, Kansas has advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2012. Newman scored all 13 of the Jayhawks’ points in OT and his 32 points were a career high.
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Kansas (31-7) next faces fellow top-seed Villanova on Saturday in San Antonio. It will be the Jayhawks’ 15th Final Four appearance. Villanova defeated No. 3-seed Texas Tech 71-59 on Saturday.
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“Everything we’ve been through…we do it for moments like this,” Kansas star Devonte’ Graham said. “Especially after the last two years, getting over the hump. It just feels (perfect).”
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Sunday’s contest featured 18 lead changes and 11 ties.
Duke’s Grayson Allen took a bank shot in the final seconds, but it went just wide.
Newman, a sophomore who started playing for Kansas late this year, sank his fifth and last three-pointer with 1:49 remaining to put the Jayhawks up 81-78. Newman then added four consecutive free throws.
Trevon Duval scored 20 points, two shy of a career high, for the Blue Devils. Freshman star Marvin Bagley added 16 points and ten rebounds in what may have been his final game with Duke (29-8). The Blue Devils last reached the Final Four in 2015, when they won the national title.
Allen had 12 points for Duke, which already boasts four five-star recruits committed to join the program next year.
Allen ended his college run with 1,996 total points.
No. 11-seed Loyola Chicago and No. 3-seed Michigan will also face off in the Final Four. They defeated No. 9-seeds Kansas State and Florida State, respectively, to advance to the semifinals.
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