Kentucky 85, St. Bonaventure 80

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Kentucky avoided becoming the first upset victim in this year's NCAA tournament when Tayshaun Prince scored 28 points to lead the fifth-seeded Wildcats to an 85-80 double-overtime

Thursday, March 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Kentucky avoided becoming the first upset victim in this year's NCAA tournament when Tayshaun Prince scored 28 points to lead the fifth-seeded Wildcats to an 85-80 double-overtime victory Thursday over 12th-seeded St. Bonaventure.

Prince made a tying 3-pointer with seven seconds left in regulation and Kentucky (23-9) advanced to the second round of the Midwest Regional despite hitting just one field goal in the first overtime and making two mind-boggling defensive plays that allowed the Bonnies to force the second OT.

St. Bonaventure (21-10), playing in its first NCAA tournament in 22 years, got 20 points from freshman Patricio Prato.

Kentucky will play the winner of Thursday's second game between Syracuse (24-5) and Samford (21-10).

Jamaal Magliore's two free throws with 8.7 second remaining in the first OT put the Wildcats ahead 76-73, but Kentucky reserve Marvin Stone fouled David Messiah Capers trying a 3-pointer with four-tenths of a second left.

Messiah Capers, a 56 per cent free-throw shooter, then made all three attempts despite Kentucky calling two timeouts while he was at the line.

With Kentucky clinging to an 81-80 lead in the second OT, Wildcats guard Keith Bogans picked up a loose ball in the lane and scored to put Kentucky up three.

Tim Winn's 3-pointer with three seconds left then rattled out on St. Bonaventure's last possession. Bogans added 19 points for Kentucky.