COLLEGE BASKETBALL / PRESEASON NIT : UMass Stuns N. Carolina in Overtime

Massachusetts couldn’t hit free throws down the stretch and had to go deep into its thin bench.

All that, however, couldn’t prevent the biggest victory in school history Wednesday night when the No. 19 Minutemen beat No. 1 North Carolina, 91-86, in overtime in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT at New York.

The Minutemen (3-0) will meet No. 6 Kansas for the title on Friday night.

North Carolina (2-1), the defending national champion, was a 15-point favorite.

But Massachusetts hung in and attacked the boards relentlessly behind Lou Roe, who finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

“On the way into the building people were telling us to forget it, we couldn’t beat North Carolina. They were laughing at us,” Roe said. “I was getting angry.”

Roe’s free-throw shooting, however, almost keep the Minutemen from winning. He made one of five free throws, including missing the front end of two one-and-ones in the final 6:46 of regulation, but North Carolina had dug itself a hole with foul problems.

Seven-foot center Eric Montross fouled out with 6:46 left and 6-11 forward Kevin Salvadori was gone with 2:58 left.

North Carolina missed two chances to score in the final seconds of regulation and the overtime was all Massachusetts as it scored the first six points, all from Dana Dingle.

No. 6 Kansas 75, No. 9 Minnesota 71--Richard Scott scored 20 points and Steve Woodberry and Greg Ostertag came up with the big plays down the stretch at New York, sending the Jayhawks (3-0) past the Gophers (2-1).

The Jayhawks seemed in control and led, 50-38, with 15:44 to play. But the Golden Gophers moved in front, 63-62, with 5:32 left.

Ostertag scored eight of Kansas’ next 11 points to help put Minnesota away.