COLOR THE FINAL BLUE vs. ORANGE

Because their road to the Final Four had mostly produced road kill, the Kentucky Wildcats could tell you everything about their game except what they’d do in a close one.

They found out Saturday.

Driven to a near panic attack by an opponent that lived on the edge all season, Kentucky kept its head down the stretch and defeated Massachusetts, 81-74, before 19,229 at the Meadowlands Arena.

The victory avenged a 10-point defeat to UMass on Nov. 28, put Kentucky into Monday’s national championship game against Syracuse and ended speculation the Wildcats were somehow vulnerable because they hadn’t been involved in many close encounters.

Was it their fault they won 32 games by an average of 23 points?

“As the game got close, I thought they might panic,” UMass Coach John Calipari said. “They did at times, but not enough to sway the game.”

And so much for the worn notion that Kentucky (33-2) is one dimensional, lives off the three-point shot and could be taken in a half-court game.

That was last year’s rap.

Kentucky prevailed Saturday while making only three of nine three-pointers and playing UMass’ game.

“I thought the game was played and unfolded the way we wanted it to unfold,” Calipari remarked.

And he still lost.

UMass controlled the tempo, the clock and had cut a 15-point second-half deficit to three with 1:02 remaining.

“I always felt we were going to play well in close games,” Pitino said.

But he didn’t know.

Sloppy play allowed a 10-point lead with 2:35 left to suddenly evaporate, forcing center Mark Pope to make two free throws with 52 seconds left to extend the lead to 75-70.

Edgar Padilla then raced downcourt and missed a three-point attempt. On the miss, Anthony Epps heaved a long pass to a streaking Antoine Walker, who scored with 38 seconds left. After a Giddel Padilla miss, the Wildcats burned the Minutemen with another long pass, Derek Anderson to Tony Delk, and victory was secured.

“I guess we handled it well,” Walker said of the pressure. “We got the ‘W.’ We always go wire-to-wire in our scrimmages. We get experience every day that people don’t see.”

This was no scrimmage. Kentucky tried to make this game like all the other wipeouts but UMass (35-2) would have none of it. The Minutemen motto this season was “Refuse to Lose,” and they tried to live up to it.

It was Kentucky’s plan to wear down UMass’ starting five with waves of players and defensive pressure.

“We wanted to suffocate them at every level,” Pitino said. “We were not going to let them see an option.”

After taking a 36-28 halftime lead, Kentucky tried to ambush UMass with an early second-half blitz, scoring the first seven points after intermission to take a 43-28 lead with 18:04 left.

To make matters worse, UMass guard Carmelo Travieso picked up his third and fourth fouls in a span of 13 seconds and had to leave the game.

For UMass, not known for its bench strength, this should have been disastrous.

But Giddel Padilla, Travieso’s replacement, did more than hold his own. While he was in, UMass reduced the deficit from 13 to six points.

With 14:31 left, Camby scored and was fouled on a pass from Padilla. Camby’s free throw cut the lead to six at 47-41.

Kentucky then went on another seven-point spree, extending its lead to 13 with 10:56 left when Walker dunked a lob pass from guard Anthony Epps.

“We refused to lose, we never stopped playing,” Calipari said later.

But UMass could never get closer than three points.

Donta Bright’s follow shot with 4:57 left cut the Kentucky lead to 63-60, but the Wildcats responded with five unanswered points.

The lead was 10 at 71-61 when Walker made two free throws with 2:35 left before UMass made a last, unsuccessful run.

Marcus Camby, who was dominant in November’s victory over Kentucky--32 points, nine rebounds, five blocks--scored 25 this time.

“We knew he was going to get his points,” Walker said. “Our job was to stop the other guys.”

Kentucky held Travieso to 10 points, Dana Dingle to eight and Edgar Padilla to six.

Tony Delk led Kentucky with 20 points, while Walker had 14.