Talking points

Rarely does a matchup of giants live up to the hype as this one did. Carolina used Tyler Zeller's inside game and some deadly three-point shooting (5-for-7 to start the game) to control most of the first half. The lead reached as many as nine points, but Terrence Jones kept UK in it with 14 first-half points. UK charged back behind Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and some hot shooting from Doron Lamb. UK took the lead for good at 61-60 (7:32). The drama lasted till the closing seconds, when Anthony Davis blocked a short jumper by 6-foot-11 John Henson.

Telling numbers

■ Kentucky shot only 4-for-17 on three-pointers while Carolina was 11-for-18.

■ Inside the three-point line, UNC was 14-for-42.

■ After blocking a school-record 18 shots Thursday, UK blocked one in the first half against UNC and seven overall. It did block the shot that counted most.

■ UK outscored UNC 36-14 in the paint.

Thumbs Up

■ Don't overlook the toughness of Kidd-Gilchrist (17 points, 11 rebounds) or the maturity and big-game calmness of Darius Miller (12 points).

■ Marquis Teague struggled a little early but, in the end, UK turned it over only nine times and Teague had one.

■ Terrence Jones came up big in the first half.

Thumbs Down

■ Kentucky's defense has been a staple this year, but it can do a better job defending three-pointers.

■ Stop the idea of ending this series. UK fans waited months for this game.