North Carolina Extends Streak in Final 16 to 13

North Carolina advanced to the round of 16 for the 13th consecutive season by beating Rhode Island, 112-67, in an East Regional game Saturday.

The second-ranked Tar Heels (30-4) reached 30 victories for the first time since 1987, when they were 32-4. It’s the third time that one of Dean Smith’s teams has won at least 30 games. The 1982 national champions had a 32-2 record.

Donald Williams scored 17 points for North Carolina, which was able to send its starters to the bench with 12 minutes left.

Derrick Phelps made all seven shots he took for 15 points in his second game since suffering a bruised tailbone. Eric Montross also had 15 for North Carolina. Reserve Matt Wenstrom added a season-high 14 and Kevin Salvadori had 11.

Andre Samuel scored 17 points for Rhode Island (19-11).

“I was really shocked that the game went the way it did,” North Carolina Coach Dean Smith said. “I thought it would be a very close game. I thought at halftime the game was essentially settled, and I had no idea that would happen.”

The 45-point margin of victory was 24 short of Loyola of Chicago’s record 111-42 rout of Tennessee Tech during the 1963 tournament.

Rhode Island made four of 23 shots in the final 11 minutes of the first half and closed the half eight for 35 (22.9%).

Abdul Fox’s jumper drew Rhode Island to within 11-10, but North Carolina scored the next six points.

Fox scored again at 10:58 for the Rams, but the Tar Heels went on a 26-6 run over the next eight minutes and led, 51-20, at halftime.

Henrik Rodl’s layup off a turnover with 12:11 remaining in the game pushed the lead to 78-31.