Heels hang on to return to title game

Late offensive rebounds off free-throw misses secure narrow win for N. Carolina

GLENDALE, ARIZ. — Kennedy Meeks had just powered his way to another offensive rebound midway through the second half when Jordan Bell reached in to hack the North Carolina forward before Meeks could use his muscular hands for another easy putback.

As players milled about to await the resulting free throws, Bell gestured with his arm in frustration and muttered something to two of his Oregon teammates, presumably about not letting the Tar Heels stomp their way to so much success around the basket. They apparently didn’t listen. Meeks bulled his way to a far more meaningful rebound with only four seconds left after a madcap sequence in which four consecutive missed free throws by North Carolina led to two offensive rebounds in the game’s final moments. Meeks threw the ball to teammate Theo Pinson, who dribbled as he retreated toward midcourt before hurling the ball into the air in triumph at the buzzer.

The Ducks quacked under the might of the moment and a more burly counterpart Saturday evening, falling to North Carolina, 77-76, in an NCAA tournament semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Tar Heels (32-7) advanced to play Gonzaga in the championship game Monday.

There were plenty of opportunities in the final minutes, some sloppy play by the Tar Heels letting the Ducks stay within range of pulling out an improbable comeback. But Oregon (33-6) continually missed 3-pointers and misfired on other opportunities. OREGON (33-6): Bell 5-7 3-5 13, Brooks 2-11 6-6 10, Dorsey 3-11 12-12 21, Pritchard 2-6 0-0 5, Ennis 7-19 2-2 18, Smith 2-2 0-0 4, Bigby-Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Benson 1-2 2-3 5. Totals 22-58 25-28 76. NORTH CAROLINA (32-7): Hicks 1-12 0-0 2, Meeks 11-13 3-6 25, Pinson 2-8 3-4 8, Jackson 6-13 6-6 22, Berry 2-14 5-9 11, Maye 0-3 2-2 2, Bradley 1-2 0-0 2, Britt 2-3 0-0 5, S.White 0-0 0-0 0, Woods 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-68 19-27 77. Halftime—North Carolina 39-36. 3-point goals—Oregon 7-26 (Dorsey 3-7, Ennis 2-9, Benson 1-2, Pritchard 1-5, Brooks 0-3), North Carolina 8-21 (Jackson 4-9, Berry 2-8, Britt 1-1, Pinson 1-2, Maye 0-1). Fouled out—Brooks. Rebounds—Oregon 42 (Bell 16), North Carolina 42 (Meeks 14). Assists—Oregon 7 (Ennis 3), North Carolina 16 (Pinson 5). Total fouls—Oregon 20, North Carolina 22. A—77,612 (72,220).