Meeks sends Tar Heels into title game
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 halfcourt 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 here 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 repeatedly missed 3-pointers and misfired on other opportunities, Dylan Ennis unable to connect with Bell while throwing an errant alley-oop pass.
Oregon did cut its deficit to 77-74 with 42 seconds left after Tyler Dorsey’s 3-pointer hit the front or the rim, rolled toward the back of the rim before reversing course, and dropped through the net. The Ducks (33-6) had an opportunity to tie the score after Pinson missed a jumper during a disjointed possession for North Carolina.
Oregon never got off a shot that could tie the score, however. Ennis hurled a pass underneath the basket to Keith Smith for a layup with six seconds left. The Ducks fouled Meeks on the inbounds pass and he missed both free throws, but Pinson tapped the second miss back out to teammate Joel Berry II.
Berry was fouled with four seconds left and did the almost unthinkable, missing both of his free throws. But Meeks snagged the rebound amid a scrum of players before finding Pinson, and that was the ballgame.