LEXINGTON, Ky. — John Wall wasn't going to let anything stop him from playing North Carolina, not even the superstar point guard's biggest fear: needles.

The Kentucky freshman bounced back from a bout with dehydration and a queasy encounter with an IV drip to finish with 16 points — including the clinching free throws with 4.3 seconds left — to lift the No. 5 Wildcats to a 68-66 victory over the 10th-ranked Tar Heels yesterday.

Wall dominated at times while helping the Wildcats (8-0) build a 19-point first-half lead, then spent 20 anxious minutes in the training room after cramping up. It took a couple of bottles of Gatorade and a bit of teeth grinding by Wall to get back on the floor.

"I hate needles, I was back there having a fit," Wall said.

So were his teammates, who almost let a big lead against the defending national champions get away in front of 24.468 — the largest crowd in Rupp Arena history.

Kentucky inched closer to becoming the first program to reach 2,000 victories thanks to some clutch free throw shooting by Wall and fellow freshman Eric Bledsoe. The duo combined to make 5 of 6 in the final 30 seconds after the Tar Heels pulled within 63-61.

"You guys are going to say I'm crazy, but I'm happy with the way it played out," said Kentucky coach John Calipari. "We had just enough."

The win pushed Kentucky's victory total to 1,996, just head of North Carolina's 1,991.

NO. 4 PURDUE 101, BUFFALO 65

Chris Kramer and E'Twaun Moore each scored 14 points as the host Boilermakers (7-0) beat the Bulls (3-3).

NO. 6 DUKE 80, ST. JOHN'S 71

Kyle Singler scored 10 of his 17 points in the second half, and the Blue Devils (7-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season to Wisconsin by beating the visiting Red Storm (6-1).

NO. 8 SYRACUSE 101, MAINE 55

Freshman guard Brandon Triche had 16 points and Arinze Onuaku added 14 as the Orange (8-0) beat the visiting Black Bears (3-4).

NO. 15 OHIO ST. 111, E. MICHIGAN 60

Jon Diebler scored 21 points for the host Buckeyes (7-1), who lost star player Evan Turner to broken bones in his back that will sideline him for weeks, in a win over the Eagles (5-3). Turner, who came in averaging 20.6 points and 12.9 rebounds, was fouled on a dunk attempt, held on to the rim too long and landed on his back out of bounds in the first half.

NO. 16 GEORGETOWN 73, AMERICAN 46

Chris Wright and Henry Sims scored 12 points apiece and Greg Monroe had nine points and a career-high 13 rebounds to lead the host Hoyas (6-0) over the Eagles (1-8).

WAKE FOREST 77, NO. 17 GONZAGA 75

C.J. Harris scored 19 points and the Demon Deacons (5-2) upset the host Bulldogs (6-2) in a physical matchup that featured several technicals and the game-changing ejection of Gonzaga's second-leading scorer and top rebounder. Gonzaga was in control 31-22 late in the first half, when a flagrant foul by freshman Elias Harris on Chas McFarland led to his ejection and a seven-point swing that brought Wake Forest back to life.

CHARLOTTE 87, NO. 20 LOUISVILLE 65

Derrio Green had a career-high 20 points as the 49ers (6-1) handed the Cardinals (5-2) their worst home loss under coach Rick Pitino.

NO. 23 BUTLER 84, VALPARAISO 67

Gordon Hayward scored 18 points, leading five players in double figures, and the host Bulldogs (6-2, 1-0 Horizon League) shot 68.8 percent from the field in the second half to beat the Crusaders (3-5, 0-1).

NO. 24 UNLV 66, SANTA CLARA 63

Tre'Von Willis hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:04 remaining and scored all of his 14 points in the second half as the Runnin' Rebels (7-0) edged the host Broncos (4-4).

WAC MEN

ILLINOIS 84, BOISE STATE 77

Demetri McCamey scored 23 point, and the host Illini (6-2) converted all six of their free-throw attempts in the final seconds to seal the win against the Broncos (4-3).

SAN JOSE STATE 82, UTAH VALLEY 74

Adrian Oliver scored 17 points and Chris Oakes added 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks as the Spartans (3-3) defeated the host Wolverines (3-4).

LOUISIANA TECH 98, NORTHWESTERN STATE 70

Kyle Gibson scored 29 points to lead three players with 20 or more points as the host Bulldogs (7-1) raced past the Demons (3-3).

NEW MEXICO 75, NEW MEXICO STATE 58

Roman Martinez scored 21 points to lead four New Mexico players in double figures, helping the host Lobos (8-0) beat the Aggies (2-5).

SAINT MARY'S 68, UTAH ST. 63

Omar Samhan scored 22 points and pulled down 17 rebounds to lead the Gaels (6-1) past the host Aggies (4-3).

PACIFIC 61, NEVADA 58

Sam Willard had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead the Tigers (6-1) over the visiting Wolf Pack (2-4).

LOCAL DIVISION II

SEATTLE PACIFIC 78, BYU-HAWAI'I 72

Chris Banchero scored 20 points, including back-to-back baskets in the final two minutes, as the 18th-ranked Falcons (6-0) upset the top-ranked Seasiders (4-1) last night in the final game of the Seattle Pacific Tournament at Seattle, Wash. Virgil Buensuceso had 20 points, Jet Chang 17 and Garrett Sandberg 10 for BYUH.