Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Lose to Kansas Jayhawks After Leading at Halftime

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Credit Western Kentucky University

The 16th-seeded Western Kentucky Hilltoppers were unable to hold onto a halftime lead against the Kansas Jayhawks, the top seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas won 64-57 and will play the eighth-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels.

Jamal Crook led the Hilltoppers with 13 points.

Western Kentucky led 31-30 at halftime but shot poorly for much of the second half, allowing the Jayhawks to pull ahead.

The Hilltoppers finish the season 20-16.

It’s the second straight year Western has entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 16 seed and lost to a No. 1 seed. Last year, the Hilltoppers lost to the Kentucky Wildcats, the eventual national champions.

The Louisville Cardinals and the Indiana Hoosiers, No. 1 seeds themselves, each advanced to the next round of this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, no 16th seeded team has ever defeated a No. 1 seed.