Connecticut Beats Kentucky, 60-54, For 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Title
Connecticut beat Kentucky and won the 2014 NCAA men's basketball title on Monday night in North Texas. Here's a recap of the action:
Connecticut 60, Kentucky 54
Shabazz Napier scored 22 points to lead Connecticut over Kentucky, 60-54, in the championship game of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament at AT&T Stadium in North Texas on Monday night. The victory gave the Huskies (32-8) their fourth national title and their second championship in four years (2011).
Leading 35-31 at halftime, Connecticut never allowed Kentucky to take the lead in the second half. The Wildcats closed to within a point on three occasions, but Napier's clutch three-pointer with 6:54 left gave UConn a four-point cushion they extended by game's end. The guard was named the tournament's most outstanding player for his performance.
A seventh-seed out of the South Region, the Huskies bolted out to a 17-8 run to start the game and led by as much as 15 points in the first half.
James Young scored 20 points to lead Kentucky (29-11), which advanced to its second title game in three years despite being the eighth seed in the Midwest Region.