East Regional Semifinals No. 1 North Carolina used an 18-0 run in the second half to erase a 10-point hole with 10 minutes remaining and go on to beat No. 5 USC 74-64. The run coincided with freshman Taj Gibson’s fourth foul, sending him to the bench. Gibson and the Trojans had been playing with more energy and efficiency until that point. Freshman Brandan Wright led the Tar Heels with 21 points and many high-flying rebounds and dunks. The Tar Heels dominated the paint, especially in Gibson’s absence. The Trojans scored only five points in the final 10 minutes after building a 16-point cushion shortly after halftime.
A questionable no-call on a possible travel on junior Jeff Green allowed the Georgetown forward to score the winning basket with less than three seconds left to lift the Hoyas against No. 6 Vanderbilt 66-65. Replays seemed to suggest that Green switched pivot feet, but none of the officials saw it that way. The Commodores had built an eight-point halftime lead over No. 2 Georgetown, but the Hoyas methodically clawed back behind Green, who tied for the team lead in scoring with 15 points and played all 40 minutes, and center Roy Hibbert, who had 12 points and 10 boards before fouling out. DaJuan Summers also had 15 for the Hoyas. Derrick Byars and Dan Cage each had 17 for Vanderbilt, and Cage added seven rebounds. [3/23/07]
