MARCH MADNESS
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W. Kentucky Hilltops San Diego
Advance to Sweet Sixteen with 72-63 win
By Lev Weinstein
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Posted Mar 23, 08 6:52 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Elated today with its first trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 15 years, Western Kentucky now faces a real trial, reports the AP. After warding off a scrappy San Diego 72-63 with Courtney Lee's clutch late free throws and his team-leading 29 points, the 12th-seeded Hilltoppers will have to go through top seed UCLA in the West Region semifinals in their next game.
Western Kentucky opened up a 37-23 lead on the Toreros at the half, with Lee scoring 19 of his 29 in the first twenty minutes. San Diego, however, was far from done. The Toreros rallied back in the second half, staging an 18-2 run that gave them a one-point lead, before Lee hit a decisive three pointer with little more than six to play.