LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nothing came easy for top-ranked Kentucky against eighth-seeded Cincinnati, which mixed it up with the Wildcats on almost every play.
They didn't flinch and eventually built a double-digit lead by physically imposing their will on the Bearcats. Kentucky's reward was college basketball's first 36-0 start and a return visit to the Sweet 16 as it cleared an important step in its quest to become the first unbeaten champion since Indiana in 1976.
Aaron Harrison scored 13 points, Trey Lyles added 11 with 11 rebounds and the Wildcats outworked Cincinnati for a 64-51 victory Saturday that showed their resolve even when the numbers worked against them.
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Kentucky shot just 37 percent and was outrebounded 45-38 yet always seemed in control because of timely baskets and rebounds that Cincinnati failed to get.
"I always like it when my team shoots 37, 36, 35 percent and wins in double digits," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "It shows them they don't have to make shots to win. … You can miss most of them, and you can still win games if you defend, you rebound and you play that way, make your free throws, and they did."
The Wildcats earned their sixth consecutive double-digit win that helped them surpass last year's Wichita State squad for the most victories to start the season. Kentucky now looks to extend its roll in Thursday's Midwest Regional semifinal at Cleveland.
Kentucky might be hard-pressed to find an opponent as grueling as Cincinnati (23-11). The physical Bearcats made the Wildcats work hard for every shot and rebound.
But the Wildcats succeeded by making life difficult on both ends for Cincinnati, holding the Bearcats to 32 percent shooting, including just 24 percent in the second half. Kentucky blocked six shots after halftime and nine overall while also coming up with key rebounds.
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The Wildcats made 20 of 28 free throws, chances created by their aggressive attack of the basket. Cincinnati didn't shoot a free throw until early in the second half and finished 9-of-14 from the line.
"Had we finished a little better down the stretch with some point-blank shots that we had, had we made some free throws, we'd have made it very, very interesting," Cincinnati associate head coach Larry Davis said.
Troy Caupain had 13 points for Cincinnati, which trailed by 19 points with 1:43 left.
Most notable for Kentucky was the timing of some baskets that ended up snatching momentum, such as Willie Cauley-Stein's emphatic flying dunk and free throw during a 10-0 run just before halftime that brought another sea of blue in the crowd to its feet.
"When he does it, we all scream like we did it," Harrison said. "We're just used to it."
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Harrison followed with a 3-pointer to cap the run and make it louder, and just like that Kentucky had the momentum it needed.
Cincinnati got within three points several times early in the second half, the last time at 35-32 on Ellis' jumper.
NOTRE DAME 67BUTLER 64 (OT)
Jerian Grant scored 16 points, including the clinching layup with 18 seconds left in overtime, and the third-seeded Irish edged the Bulldogs in Pittsburgh.
Notre Dame (31-5) moved on to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.
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Steve Vasturia led Notre Dame with 20 points. Demetrius Jackson added 13 points, and Zach Auguste had 13 rebounds for the Irish, which beat the Bulldogs for the first time in 26 years.
Roosevelt Jones played through an injured left knee while scoring 23 points for Butler (23-11), which had two chances to win it in regulation.
The Irish never trailed in overtime.
From wire reports
