Late rally seals 72-68 win for Louisville over Wichita State in Final Four game

Louisville's Luke Hancock (11) Louisville's Peyton Siva (3) and Louisville's Stephan Van Treese celebrate their win against Wichita State tonight in Atlanta.

ATLANTA -- In the end, few were shocked with the outcome. Yet for the bulk of the national championship semifinal, the Wichita State men's basketball team kept Louisville on the ropes.

A late-second half rally by the Cardinals helped them advance to the national championship game with a 72-68 win over the Shockers tonight at the Georgia Dome.

The Cardinals rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half and tied the game at 58-58 with 5:22 left on a pair of free throws by Peyton Siva. Less than three minutes later, Louisville stretched its lead to 65-60 and went 6 for 8 from the free-throw line in the final minute.

Cleanthony Early led Wichita State (30-9) with 24 points and 10 rebounds and Russ Smith led Louisville with 21 points.

Louisville (34-5) will face either Michigan or Syracuse in the national title game at 9:23 p.m. Monday at the Georgia Dome.