It wasn’t always as easy as a 15-point win should be, but North Carolina defeated Long Island University, 102-87, in the Tar Heels’ debut in this year’s NCAA tournament. The loss by the Blackbirds snaps the nation’s longest active winning streak.
NCAA Bracket Update: North Carolina Muscles Past Long Island, 102-87
Three players scored more than 20 points for UNC: Tyler Zeller (32), John Henson (28) and Harrison Barnes (24). In a kind of odd symmetry, three Long Island players fouled out. The Blackbirds also had three players hit double digits in Julian Boyd (18), C.J. Garner (16) and Jamal Olasewere (15).
Roy Williams wasn’t happy with his team, and there were certainly enough warts to give him some things to discuss with his team. The Heels made just three of 17 three-point shots and did allow Long Island to score 87 points on the game.
Still, North Carolina never trailed in the game and was only briefly tied with Long Island in the first half. And they’re going on to the next round -- which is, after all, the point of the whole thing.
Here’s the updated look at the East region of the 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket.
No. 1 Ohio State defeats No. 16 Texas-San Antonio
No. 8 George Mason defeats No. 9 Villanova
No. 5 WVU defeats No. 12 Clemson
No. 4 Kentucky defeats No. 13 Princeton
No. 2 UNC defeats No. 15 Long Island
No. 7 Washington vs. No. 10 Georgia, March 18 at 9:45 on CBS
No. 3 Syracuse vs.No. 14 Indiana State, March 18 at 9:57 on TruTV
No. 6 Xavier vs. No. 11 Marquette, March 18 at 7:27 on TruTV
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