Kansas has defeated Duke, earning themselves the last spot in this year’s Final Four. The Jayhawks joins Villanova, Loyola-Chicago and Michigan in the semi-final matchups. Malik Newman scored all 13 of Kansas’ points in overtime, and the top-seeded Jayhawks are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2012 after beating No. 2 seed Duke 85-81 in overtime in the Midwest Region final.
The Jayhawks had failed to get out of the Elite Eight as a No. 1 seed each of the last two years. This time the Jayhawks broke through thanks to a huge performance from Newman, who scored a career-high 32 points.
Kansas will play top-seeded East Region champion Villanova in the second national semifinal next Saturday in San Antonio. Duke was trying to get to the Final Four for the first time since it won the national championship in 2015.
Kansas’ Malik Newman (14) and Marcus Garrett celebrate after defeating Duke 85-81 in overtime a regional final game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament on Sun., March 25, 2018, in Omaha, Neb.
AP
Newman made two free throws to tie the game, then gave the Jayhawks the lead for good at with 1:49 left. Newman scored 10 points in the first five minutes of the second half as the Jayhawks quickly erased a 36-33 halftime deficit.
Trevon Duval scored 20 points to lead Duke. Marvin Bagley III scored 16 in what probably was his last college game.
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