The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
North Carolina averts upset
Heels close on 12-0 run, top Arkansas; Kentucky outlasts Wichita State.
Kennedy Meeks had 16 points and a huge tip-in with 44.2 seconds left to help North Carolina barely avoid a huge upset by rallying to beat Arkansas 72-65 in Sunday’s second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Justin Jackson added 15 points for the Tar Heels (29-7) in the South Region at Greenville, S.C., including a dunk that capped a game-closing 12-0 run by the region’s No. 1 seed.
North Carolina led by 17 points after a dominating start, blew that lead and trailed 65-60 with 3:28 left.
“I don’t mind saying I feel a little lucky,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “Every now and then, I knock in a long putt, too.”
Isaiah Hicks added a dunk and four free throws in the final two minutes.
Daryl Macon scored 19 points to lead the eighth-seeded Razorbacks (26-10). They had UNC wobbling with their aggressive defense harassing the Tar Heels all over the court. And when Jaylen Barford scored in transition off a turnover, Arkansas led 65-60.
But the Tar Heels — loaded with returnees from a team that played in last year’s national championship game — responded.
Joel Berry II hit two free throws with 2:56 left, Jackson found Hicks for a dunk, then Hicks hit two free throws after being fouled on a rebound to put UNC up 66-65 with 1:44 left.
Then came Meeks’ big moment. With the shot clock winding down, Berry drove and collided with Adrio Bailey, forcing him to just fling the ball onto the backboard to avoid a travel. Meeks, battling for position with Moses Kingsley, tapped it up and in to push the Tar Heels to a 68-65 lead.
Kingsley missed two free throws with 25.2 seconds left and Anton
Beard followed with a missed 3-pointer in an attempt to tie. Kentucky 65, Wichita State
62: At Indianapolis, the second-seeded Wildcats (31-5) moved into the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in nine years. Freshman Bam Adebayo had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and he sealed the victory by swatting away Landry Shamet’s 3-point attempt as it left his hand in the final second.
The other two key freshmen also made big plays: De’Aaron Fox had 14 points, including a late steal and dunk. Malik Monk blocked a shot and made two free throws in the final 13 seconds.
“They’re young, but they have a will to win and play with courage and are skilled basketball players and great kids who share,” coach John Calipari said.
The 10th-seeded Shockers (315) lost to Kentucky in the second round for the second time in four seasons. In 2014 they were 35-0 before falling 78-76 when Fred Van Vleet’s 3-pointer missed at the buzzer. “How many years do we have to do this to make people respect our program? I don’t know,” coach Gregg Marshall said, referring to the team’s low seeding. “I know that we have the heart of a champion.”