CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tyler Hansbrough has relentlessly chased the ball all season. That aggressiveness is a big reason why top-ranked North Carolina barely avoided a stunning upset in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals yesterday.
Tyler Hansbrough hits game-winner vs. V-Tech!
more stories like thisThe All-American grabbed a loose rebound and hit a jumper with .8 seconds left to help the Tar Heels beat Virginia Tech, 68-66, keeping their ACC title defense alive and dealing a blow to the Hokies' NCAA Tournament hopes.
Hansbrough finished with 26 points and nine rebounds for top-seeded North Carolina (31-2), which trailed almost the entire way against a team it had routed last month before rallying for its 10th straight victory. The Tar Heels likely locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Tar Heels rallied from an 8-point deficit in the second half before getting the ball with 21 seconds left in a tie game. Ty Lawson drove for a runner that bounced off the rim, but Virginia Tech's A.D. Vassallo and Jeff Allen couldn't bring in the rebound.
Hansbrough raced over to the right side and grabbed the ball. His shot swished through the net.
After the fourth-seeded Hokies (19-13) called a timeout, their final chance ended when Deon Thompson batted Malcolm Delaney's inbounds pass from the baseline as time expired.
Clemson 78, Duke 74 - Trevor Booker scored 18 points, Cliff Hammonds added 17, and the Tigers (24-8) stunned the seventh-ranked Blue Devils (27-5) to reach the tournament title game for the first time in 46 years.
Third-seeded Clemson (24-8), which had lost 22 straight games to Duke, pulled away in the second half to get another shot at North Carolina, which beat the Tigers in overtime (90-88) Jan. 6 and in double overtime (103-93) Feb. 10.
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College-Basketball Notebook about NBA Draft JOURNAL WIRE REPORT ? Coach Roy Williams of North Carolina says he has met with Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington about the possibility of their entering the NBA Draft. In an interview on the school's Web site posted>
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