In a top 10 battle, two college basketball blue bloods played a classic. North Carolina rallied from 10 down in the second half to take a late lead but the Tar Heels couldn't stop Kentucky's Malik Monk, who scored 47 including a big three in the closing seconds to give the Wildcats a 103-100 victory. (12/17)

The Tar Heels, who trailed most of the way, were down 84-74 with less than eight minutes to play but got back in it on two three pointers by Luke Maye.

With 3:45 left, Joel Berry, back from injury, drained a three to put the Heels within striking distance at 93-91.

With three minutes left, Monk, who had been unstoppable, missed a double-teamed jumper and UNC's Bradley was fouled. Bradley hit two free throws to tie it at 95-95 with 2:51 left.

After a Kentucky turnover on a fastbreak, UNC's Justin Jackson, who had a career-high 34 points, popped a three from the top of the key to give Carolina its first lead since the first four minutes of the game at 98-95.

But Monk's magic hadn't fizzled and he came right back with a three within seconds to tie the game at 98 with 1:15 to go.

UNC's Isaiah Hicks, who was in foul trouble much of the game, threw a backdoor pass to Jackson, who scored and was fouled. He missed the free throw but Carolina led 100-98 with 44.8 seconds left.

The Heels got a stop but couldn't convert and Monk had another chance, working his way for a three over Hicks with 16.7 seconds left to give the lead back to the Wildcats at 101-100.

After a Hicks miss on a turnaround jumper, Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox, who scored 24, hit a pair of free throws to make it 103-100.

Carolina had a shot at the buzzer but Kenny Williams missed from the corner to end the game.

Monk made open shots and made tough shots from beginning to end. "Malik was off the charts," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "He put on a show."

Berry said you can't let a shooter like Monk get hot early. "We have to make him uncomfortable and we didn't do that."

Coach Williams, who picked up a technical foul in the first half after a controversial foul call, said he was proud of his team. "It looked like we were out of it and we kept playing," he said.

As for the technical, Coach Williams said he deserved it but "our guy's laying on the floor. That's all he was doing. I didn't understand that. I think it wasn't fair to Isaiah (Hicks)."

Williams said he believes Hicks has gotten a reputation for fouling.

Carolina trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, trailed 56-51 at the half and fell back by 10 in the second half before the wild ending.

The Tar Heels, 10-2, face Northern Iowa on Wednesday in Chapel Hill.

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