North Carolina’s John Henson celebrates Sunday during the Tar Heel’s win against Creighton. (AP photo)
Henson had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in his return from a wrist injury, but Marshall broke a bone in his right wrist during the second half of North Carolina’s 87-73 victory over Creighton in the third round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday.
Coach Roy Williams confirmed the injury after the game, and said he would talk to Marshall and his parents about his status Sunday night. The point guard still finished with 18 points and 11 assists.
North Carolina got off to a fast start and built a 15-point lead in the first half, then kept control and pushed the margin to 19 after the break on the way to its second straight double-digit victory in the Midwest Regional. The top-seeded Tar Heels (31-5) reached the round of 16 for a record 25th time.
Doug McDermott scored 20 points for the eight-seeded Bluejays (29-6), who shot 41 percent and couldn’t keep up with the hot-shooting Tar Heels.
Henson had missed the last three games after spraining his left wrist during the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament when he fell to the court while being fouled. His return drew a roar from the home-state fans filling the Greensboro Coliseum, both when he jogged out with his teammates for pregame warmups and when he was introduced during the starting lineups.
Most of the time, Henson looked like his old self, knocking down midrange jumpers or using his long frame to snatch rebounds or swat shots.
He drew a technical foul in the first half when he got angry and started jawing with a Creighton defender who had chopped at the ball in Henson’s hands in the paint. He also had a moment when he cringed after taking a blow to the hands on a foul, which forced Williams to pull him briefly in the first half.
With Henson’s return, the Tar Heels appeared to be getting their team together in time for a trip to the regional semifinals in St. Louis. Now they will have to wait and see if Marshall will be available.
Marshall’s injury overshadowed Henson’s return and the reunion of McDermott and UNC’s Harrison Barnes, who teamed together to lead Ames High School in Iowa to consecutive state championships and unbeaten seasons.
McDermott came in averaging about 23 points and eight rebounds, while Barnes was leading the Tar Heels in scoring at about 17 per game.
That matchup never materialized, with Henson and freshman James Michael McAdoo getting most of the defensive work against McDermott. Barnes finished with 17 points on 7-for-19 shooting, including back-to-back 3-pointers to turn away Creighton’s final push after the Bluejays had closed within 12 with about 5½ minutes left.
Creighton came in leading the country with a 50.7 percent shooting average, but it couldn’t figure out a way to put the on-the-attack Tar Heels on the defensive.
North Carolina buried shot after shot in the first half to build a 39-24 lead on Barnes’ 3-pointer with 5½ minutes left. UNC led by eight at half, but Creighton never got closer after the break.
Reggie Bullock added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Tar Heels, including three 3-pointers. The Tar Heels hit 14 of their first 19 shots and finished at 51 percent for the game.
MICHIGAN STATE 65, SAINT LOUIS 61
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Draymond Green scored 16 points with 13 rebounds and set up Keith Appling’s crucial 3-pointer with 1:34 left, giving top-seeded Michigan State a 65-61 win over Saint Louis on Sunday and sending the Spartans to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament.
Michigan State will play No. 4 seed Louisville in the West Regional semifinals Thursday in Phoenix.
Appling added 19 points for the Spartans (29-7), who had to scrape their way past the ninth-seeded Billikens (26-8). Saint Louis controlled the tempo but never got a complete handle on Green, Michigan State’s superb senior. He added six assists and even helped mop up sweat off the floor in the final minute.
FLORIDA 84, NORFOLK STATE 50
OMAHA, Neb. — Kenny Boynton scored 20 points and Florida routed Norfolk State to reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament for the second straight year.
Norfolk State shook up the West Regional when it upset No. 2 seed Missouri 86-84 on Friday and was trying to become the first 15 seed to reach the round of 16.
Florida put a quick end to that idea, making five 3-pointers during a 25-0 run that made it 29-6 midway through the first half.
OHIO 62, SOUTH FLORIDA 56
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Walter Offutt scored 21 points, D.J. Cooper had 19 and Ohio beat South Florida to advance to the regional semifinals.
The Bobcats (29-7) will play No. 1 seed North Carolina in their second trip to the round of 16.
Ohio trailed by two when Offutt swished a 3-pointer, launching a 10-0 run for the Bobcats. A pair of free throws by Cooper made it 54-46 with 3:28 left.
The Bobcats had a 59-53 lead when Toarlyn Fitzpatrick connected for South Florida’s first 3-pointer of the half. But Cooper went 3 for 4 from the line while the Bulls missed three shots in the final 36 seconds.
KANSAS 63, PURDUE 60
OMAHA, Neb. — Elijah Johnson scored 18 points, including the go-ahead basket off a steal in the final minute, and Kansas rallied to beat Robbie Hummel and Purdue after trailing almost the entire way.
Thomas Robinson had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Jayhawks (29-6), who were down by 10 in the second half but still managed to advance to St. Louis. They’ll play No. 11 seed North Carolina State on Friday in the Midwest Regional semifinals.
Purdue was clinging to a 60-59 lead and had the ball when Lewis Jackson, with the shot clock winding down, lost control at the top of the key. Johnson picked it up and went the other way for the go-ahead layup with 23.3 seconds left.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 66, GEORGETOWN 63
Lorenzo Brown hit three free throws in the final 10.6 seconds and North Carolina State conjured up its glorious tradition by upsetting Georgetown.
The Wolfpack (24-12) had to survive a furious comeback by the Hoyas (24-9) and only were assured of the win when Jason Clark’s hurried 3-point attempt from the right wing was off the mark at the buzzer.
C.J. Williams, Scott Wood and C.J. Leslie each had 14 points, and Brown added 12 for the Wolfpack, who earned their first trip to the round of 16 since 2005.
XAVIER 70, LEHIGH 58
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Senior center Kenny Frease scored a career-high 25 points to go with 12 rebounds and Xavier knocked off upset-minded Lehigh to reach the round of 16 for the fourth time in five years.
Lehigh, which stunned No. 2 seed Duke on Friday, was looking to become the first 15 seed to make it to the regional semifinals. But the 7-foot Frease stood in the way.
He dominated in the paint, hitting 11 of 13 shots, and Tu Holloway was his normal productive self with 21 points as Xavier (22-12) advanced to play No. 3 seed Baylor on Friday in the South Regional at Atlanta.
The Musketeers held C.J. McCollum, the nation’s fifth-leading scorer, to 14 points on 5-of-22 shooting and overcame a 15-point first-half deficit.
CINCINNATI 62, FLORIDA STATE 56
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dion Dixon stole the ball and dunked to put Cincinnati ahead for good with 1:32 left, and the Bearcats edged out Florida State 62-56 Sunday night to reach their first regional semifinal in the NCAA tournament since 2001.
Cincinnati (26-10) will play No. 2 seed Ohio State in Boston on Thursday night in the East, giving the state of Ohio four teams out of the last 16 still standing.
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