The Guardian’s Classic semifinals featured four Top 25 teams at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. 18th ranked Iowa pulled a minor upset when it topped seventh ranked Kentucky 67-63. Neither team led by more than seven points in the contest. It was tied with 90 seconds to go. Iowa led 64-61 with 23 seconds to go when Hawkeye freshman Tony Freeman stripped Wildcat sophomore Ramel Bradley. Iowa hit free throws to seal it.
2nd ranked Texas got a scare against 17th-ranked West Virginia with a 76-75 win over the Mountaineers. LaMarcus Aldridge proved to be the hero for the Longhorns, when his put-back with three seconds to go gave Texas the win. West Virginia missed the front end of three one-and-ones in the final 32 seconds.
Iowa and Texas will meet in the finals tonight at 9PM.