Kansas beats Kentucky

Julian Wright scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, Brandon Rush had 19 and top-seeded Kansas romped past Kentucky, 88-76, in a matchup of two of the game’s most storied programs in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday at Chicago.

Mario Chalmers had 16 points for the Jayhawks, who shot 57% from the field to win their 13th in a row. Kansas (32-4) will play fourth-seeded Southern Illinois in the regional semifinals Thursday at San Jose.

Randolph Morris finished with 22 points, including 14 from the line, for Kentucky (22-12).

Rush opened the second half with a three-point basket that gave Kansas a nine-point lead, its largest of the game to that point. Perry responded with consecutive three-pointers that pulled Kentucky to within 39-36 with 18:51 left to play.

But Morris left the game after picking up his third foul with 17:46 still to play. From that point, the Jayhawks steamrollered Kentucky with Morris on the bench.

Southern Illinois 63, Virginia Tech 48 -- The Salukis got three key three-pointers from Jamaal Tatum and pulled away from the Hokies in a second-round game at Columbus, Ohio.

Tatum, the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year, scored 21 points. The Salukis (29-6) set a school record for victories in a season.

Jamon Gordon had 16 points and Deron Washington 15 for fifth-seeded Virginia Tech (22-12). Zabian Dowdell, who came in averaging 18, had seven.