As expected, the game was an up and down affair as soon as the ball was tipped. Each got their fair share of easy buckets in transition. Kentucky found its early advantage inside.
P.J. Washington and Reid Travis could not be contained in the paint. When the defense collapsed on Washington, he found Travis for an easy bucket. After scoring 15 in the first half, Travis finished with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Washington flirted with a triple-double, scoring 11 points, dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 9 rebounds.
North Carolina made things interesting with an odd second half exchange.