East regional: North Carolina 68, Washington State 47
North Carolina 68, Washington State 47
CHARLOTTE — The Tar Heels didn't do it their way, but North Carolina still walked off the court the way it usually does.
As winners.
The top-seeded Tar Heels turned off their autobahn trip in the NCAA tournament onto a gravel path called Washington State Road.
Despite the Cougars' grinding defense and the Tar Heels' star being invisible in the first half, North Carolina moved on as expected to the final eight at Bobcats Arena with a 68-47 victory in the East regional semifinals against No. 4-seeded Washington State.
"We're ecstatic about still playing," coach Roy Williams said.
After scoring more than 100 points in their first- and second-round victories, the Tar Heels were held to their lowest point total in four games.
But the Tar Heels have outscored all three tournament opponents by at least 20 points.
"This is a tough type of game, a grind-it-out type of game," Tar Heels point guard Ty Lawson said. "As we started playing, we started to loosen up."
Before the game, Washington State center Aron Baynes, an Australian, called Tar Heels center Tyler Hansbrough a "thrashing croc in the paint." The Cougars were crocodile hunters in the first half by double-teaming him.
Hansbrough was 0-for-4 in the first half with three turnovers and the Cougars took a 12-10 lead midway through the first half.
The All-American, who averages 22.8 points per game, did not make a basket until three minutes into the second half.
Wayne Ellington and Danny Green combined for 27 of UNC's 35 first-half points. Ellington sizzled on both ends of the court, scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Green scored 15 points.
Hansbrough still turned in a second-half performance worthy of a standing ovation from the pro-North Carolina home crowd. He scored 16 of his game-high 18 points after halftime.
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