The Raleigh Tribune

NEW YORK — North Carolina wrapped up last season by cutting down the nets during a championship celebration, and the goal all along has been to do it again this year.

Tar Heels beat Rhode Island in NIT semifinals – WRALSportsFan.com.

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) –

Dexter Strickland hit the go-ahead free throws with 2:34 left and North Carolina held William & Mary scoreless for the final 5 minutes in the Tar Heels’ 80-72 win in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night. Deon Thompson scored 20 points to lead the Tar Heels (17-16), the reigning national champions who found themselves in the NIT for the first time in seven years after a disappointing season. But they weathered a flurry of 3-pointers from the Tribe to ensure they would finish at least .500. Tyler Zeller added 13 points for the fourth-seeded Tar Heels, who advanced to the second round to face the Jackson State-Mississippi State winner. David Schneider scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers for the fifth-seeded Tribe (22-11), who shot 16 for 43 from behind the arc.

Source: AP

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Heels defeat Miami

Before every Senior Night game, North Carolina coach Roy Williams looks to each underclassman and reminds them of the guys they must win for. But Tuesday at the Smith Center, seniors Marcus Ginyard and Deon Thompson seemed determined to win it for themselves.

Update:

“But today,” Williams said Tuesday night after his team beat Miami 69-62, “the old guys took care of themselves.”

Playing as if they wanted to extend their college careers – and now they just might – seniors Marcus Ginyard (first career double-double) and Deon Thompson (14 points, despite a sore back) led the Tar Heels to the 2,000th win in program history, kept Williams undefeated (22-0) on senior night and gave UNC its first two-game winning streak since December.

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