Julie Jacobson / AP

Connecticut's Marcus Williams reacts after getting fouled. Williams scored 20 points as the No. 1 Huskies advanced to the Sweet 16 with a win over Kentucky on Sunday.

The Huskies built their lead back to eight, but Sparks hit a 3-pointer and Thomas made a layup to get the Wildcats within two with 53 seconds to play.

Williams made two foul shots before Perry hit a layup to make it 83-81. Then, after Williams made two more free throws and Perry scored on a putback, Gay iced it at the line.

Kentucky lost despite 17-for-30 shooting in the second half, including 7-for-14 from 3-point range after a 1-for-10 performance in the first 20 minutes. Sparks, a senior, scored 16 after halftime.

“I didn’t want it to be my last game,” Sparks said. “I was able to hit some 3’s at the end, trying to get us back, but it just wasn’t enough.”

After falling behind by 12 points in each of its previous two games, Connecticut was determined to reverse the trend by getting off to a good start — and did just that.

Beginning with Hilton Armstrong’s dunk off the opening tap, the Huskies were sharp at the outset on both ends of the court.

In building a 25-12 lead, UConn made six of its first eight shots and got four 3-pointers from Rashad Anderson, who was held scoreless by Albany. Kentucky, in contrast, missed nine of its first 12 shots and had six turnovers in the first 11 minutes.

It was 33-20 before the Wildcats made three baskets in a 24-second span to get within seven. Minutes later, Shargari Alleyne ended Kentucky’s 0-for-9 drought from 3-point range to make it a six-point game.

But UConn closed the half with an 8-2 spurt to make it 43-31.

“We’ve been fighting from behind a lot this year, and it was no different this game,” Sparks said. “It shows what kind of toughness and character this team’s got. I give us a lot of credit for fighting the whole way.”

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