North Carolina Rolls On

North Carolina finally played up to its standards again, ending the postseason run of perhaps the NCAA tournament’s most unlikely participant.

Freshman Marvin Williams scored 20 points and Sean May had 19 in the top-seeded Tar Heels’ 96-68 rout of Oakland (Mich.) in the Syracuse Regional on Friday at Charlotte, N.C., a significant improvement from their lackluster showing in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Coming off a loss to Georgia Tech, the Tar Heels (28-4) shot 73% from the field in the first half to take a 28-point lead and keep Coach Roy Williams unbeaten (16-0) in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

“I felt like we had to come out and redeem ourselves from the way we played,” May said.

The Tar Heels certainly did that. North Carolina had four players in double figures and set a school record with 12 three-point baskets in an NCAA game.

The game ended a surprising postseason run by the Golden Grizzlies (13-19), who won only nine regular-season games but made the field with an improbable run through the Mid-Continent Conference tournament.

“We had a really great time here,” Coach Greg Kampe said. “This was the best two weeks in Oakland history, and I want to thank anyone who wrote anything about us.”

Villanova 55, New Mexico 47 -- Kyle Lowry made two sets of free throws in the last 1:38, then came up with a clutch steal as the Wildcats (23-7) held off the Lobos (26-7) at Nashville.

After holding 12th-seeded New Mexico to 11 points in the first half and leading by as many as 24, Villanova almost gave the game away. The Wildcats made only three field goals in the second half, and Allan Ray and Curtis Sumpter finished a combined two for 22 from the field. Villanova also had 20 turnovers, 12 in the second half.

New Mexico made a furious rally, pulling to within 52-47 with 29 seconds left. But they couldn’t overcome their dismal start. Danny Granger led New Mexico with 15 points and Mark Walters had 14 -- all in the second half.

Florida 67, Ohio 62 -- Anthony Roberson converted a three-point play with 42.3 seconds left and the Gators (24-7), who blew a 20-point lead, held off the Bobcats (21-11) at Nashville.

Florida came into its seventh straight NCAA tournament hoping to forget about first-round losses of the past. The Gators had lost two of their last three first-round games, including last year to Manhattan when they were a No. 5-seeded team.

Roberson, the Southeastern Conference’s leading scorer at 18.2 points a game, finished with 11. Matt Walsh led the Gators with 18 points.

Wisconsin 57, Northern Iowa 52 -- Kammron Taylor scored 16 points off the bench, including a jumper and four free throws in the last minute, to help the Badgers (23-8) hold off the Panthers (21-11) at Oklahoma City.

The Panthers, who had a chance to tie eventual Final Four participant Georgia Tech on their final possession in the first round of last year’s tournament, rallied from an early 16-point deficit before having another upset bid fall short.

Sharif Chambliss hit a season-high five three-pointers and had 15 points for Wisconsin, which got only six and seven points from leading scorers Alando Tucker and Mike Wilkinson.

North Carolina State 75, Charlotte 63 -- Julius Hodge had 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Wolfpack (20-13) over the 49ers (21-8) at Worcester, Mass.

Andrew Brackman had 16 points, Ilian Evtimov and Cameron Bennerman each had 12 and Engin Atsur 10 for North Carolina State, which held Charlotte to 38.1% shooting.

Charlotte’s Brendan Plavich, who led the nation with nearly four three-point baskets a game, was five for seven from long range for 15 points in the first half but was held scoreless in the second.

Connecticut 77, Central Florida 71 -- The defending champion Huskies (23-7) withstood a furious charge by the Golden Knights (24-9) at Worcester, Mass., to keep their hopes of a repeat alive.

Charlie Villanueva scored 22 points for Connecticut, which opened a 19-point lead before holding. Gary Johnson had a career-high 29 points for Central Florida.

Iowa State 64, Minnesota 53 -- The Cyclones (19-11) held the Gophers (21-11) to 33% shooting from the field, and Curtis Stinson led a balanced attack with 18 points for the victory at Charlotte, N.C.

Rahshon Clark and Jared Homan had 14 each for Iowa State (19-11), which got past the first round for the first time since reaching the round of eight in 2000.