COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA TOURNAMENT: THE FIRST ROUND : Smith Gets 50th Tournament Win as North Carolina Romps, 85-65

Eric Montross scored 17 points as top-seeded North Carolina took an 85-65 victory over East Carolina on Thursday night in the NCAA East Regional.

North Carolina Coach Dean Smith recorded his 50th NCAA tournament victory, the most in collegiate history. UCLA’s John Wooden finished his career with 47 tournament victories.

While the Tar Heels (29-4) relied on Montross in the middle, the Pirates (13-17) put their stock in Lester Lyons, who equaled a career high by scoring 27 points.

Derrick Phelps, who injured his tailbone during the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and sat out the final game, played 14 minutes for North Carolina. He scored six points.