Virginia Faces Auburn In The National Semifinal In Minneapolis

On Saturday night top seed Virginia out of the Atlantic Coast Conference and who is a one seed in the South Region will face Auburn out of the Southeastern Conference and who is a fifth seed out of the Midwest Region in the National Semifinal in Minneapolis.

Virginia comes into the game with a record of 33-3 while Auburn comes into the game with a record of 30-9.

As for how Virginia got to the National Semifinal they topped Purdue in overtime in the elite eight.

Mamadi Diakite (Conakry, Guinea, Africa) hit a shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, as No. 1 seed Virginia (33-3) outscored No. 3 seed Purdue (26-10) 10-5 in the extra period to win 80-75 on Saturday evening at the KFC Yum! Center and advance to the NCAA Final Four in Minneapolis, Minn. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/3/30/mens-basketball-virginia-advances-to-final-four.aspx
 
Four players finished in double figures for the Cavaliers. Kyle Guy (Indianapolis, Ind.) finished with his first career double-double, with a team-high 25 points and career-best 10 rebounds. Ty Jerome (New Rochelle, N.Y.) had 24 points and seven assists. Diakite added 14 points and redshirt sophomore De'Andre Hunter (Philadelphia, Pa.) had 10. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/3/30/mens-basketball-virginia-advances-to-final-four.aspx
 
Virginia led Purdue in rebounds (39-31) and points in the paint (26-22). The Cavaliers shot 42 percent, while the Boilermakers shot 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. UVA was 17-of-20 from free throws, while Purdue was 7-for-10. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/3/30/mens-basketball-virginia-advances-to-final-four.aspx
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Purdue hit the first shot of the game and led by as many as 10 in the first half. UVA closed the first half on a 17-5 run, including two threes by Jerome, to trail 30-29 at the break. Guy hit back-to-back 3-pointers out of the half to give Virginia its first lead of the game. The Cavaliers stretched their lead to seven several times, but each time Carson Edwards, who finished with a game-high 42 points, answered. Purdue used a 7-0 run to lead 64-63 with 3:59 to play. Jerome was fouled and hit both free throws to put UVA in front. Purdue took a 70-67 lead with 16 second remaining. Jerome was fouled and hit the front end of a one-and-one before missing the second. Diakite grabbed the board, then freshman Kihei Clark (Woodland Hills, Calif.) found Diakite for a jumper that went in as the buzzer sounded. Purdue scored first in overtime. Jerome answered to tie it again. Purdue was leading 73-72 when Hunter converted two free throws. Edwards gave Purdue the lead with a jumper, but Hunter responded with a layup with 28 seconds to go. UVA was 4-for-4 on its free throws down the stretch to seal the win. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/3/30/mens-basketball-virginia-advances-to-final-four.aspx

Like Virginia, Auburn also advanced to the national semifinal as they topped Kentucky in overtime.

For the first time in program history, Auburn advances to the Final Four, beating Kentucky 77-71 in overtime Sunday to win the Midwest Region. according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Determined to do it for Chuma, Jared Harper and Bryce Brown combined for 50 points to lead the Tigers past a trio of blue bloods - Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky – boasting a combined 17 national championships. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

"We wouldn't have wanted it any other way," said Harper, who scored 12 of his team-high 26 points in overtime, including a drive down the lane to put Auburn up 70-63 with 1:10 left in OT. "We have confidence in our team. If we do the things we can do, I feel like we can beat any team in the country." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Harper then hit six consecutive free throws to stave off Kentucky's charge.”according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

"I knew if I was going to be able to get to the line, I was going to make free throws," said Harper, who was 11-for-11 from the free-throw line in the game. "I put a lot of work in, I put a lot of pressure on myself outside of games like this to be able to make those same plays, so when it comes time in the game, it's no pressure at all for me."according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Anfernee McLemore blocked PJ Washington's shot to secure the victory for Auburn. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

"I just tried to do my part," said McLemore, whose steal and layup gave Auburn a 68-62 lead with 1:48 left in OT. "I just knew it was time to get a stop, and if I was guarding him, I was going to make it hard for him to score. We showed that we can compete with anybody in the country. With beating North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky, I think we showed that." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Brown scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half, making all six attempts, including a trio of 3-pointers. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

The Tigers dedicated the game to sophomore Chuma Okeke, who injured his knee in Auburn's 97-80 regional semifinal win over North Carolina. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

 "It's amazing," Brown said. "Above all, I'm just happy we got it for Chuma. This game was specifically for him. We went out there and battled for him." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Auburn's 10-0 run early in the second half turned a 37-30 deficit into a 40-37 lead. Brown hit a pair of 3-pointers in 47 seconds to give the Tigers their first lead. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

After McLemore blocked a shot, Harper alley oop to J'Von McCormick made it 42-39. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Kentucky reclaimed the lead, but Brown's third 3-pointer of the half put Auburn up 47-46 with 12:21 remaining. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Brown remained scorching hot, driving past Kentucky's Tyler Herro and hitting jump shots for a 51-48 Auburn lead. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

After Danjel Purifoy's corner 3-pointer made it 54-50, Austin Wiley scored to give Auburn its biggest lead in regulation, 56-50 with 7:10 to play. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Kentucky cut the lead to two, but Brown continued to dazzle, driving past Reid Travis and hitting his sixth straight shot for a 58-54 Auburn lead at the 4:42 mark. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

The Wildcats scored six unanswered points to lead 60-58, but Harper's layup down the lane tied it at 60-60 with 37 seconds remaining.”according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

After a Kentucky miss, Auburn had a chance to win in regulation, but Horace Spencer's 3-pointer at the buzzer missed the mark. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

After trailing by 11 midway through the first half, Auburn rallied to cut Kentucky's lead to 35-30 at intermission. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Harper scored eight points in 2:13 late in the half, including a 4-point play. Harper's coast-to-coast layup pulled Auburn with three at 31-28. McLemore's follow-up dunk of a missed layup made it 32-30 with 35 seconds left before Ashton Hagans hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Kentucky's PJ Washington scored a game-high 28 points. Purifoy and Samir Doughty each grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for the Tigers. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

"We'll have to play better to advance," said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl after leading the Tigers to program's first 30-win season. "We've got confidence in Horace, Anfernee, Austin and Danjel. They all played a significant role. You could see where we missed Chuma, especially on the defensive end, but we made enough plays to win a regional and go someplace Auburn has never been." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2019/3/31/mens-basketball-final-four-auburn-beats-kentucky-77-71-in-ot-wins-midwest-region.aspx?path=mbball

Tip-off is set for 6:09pm from U.S. Bank Stadium that is home to the Minnesota Vikings Of The NFL. The game will be televised on CBS.