COL BKB: North Carolina 83, Louisville 73

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 29 (UPI) -- Tyler Hansbrough had 28 points and 13 rebounds Saturday to lead top-ranked North Carolina to an 83-73 win over Louisville in the NCAA East Regional final.

Wayne Ellington added 13 points for the top-seeded Tar Heels (36-2), who will play either Kansas or Davidson next Saturday in San Antonio in the Final Four. The Jayhawks and Wildcats play Sunday in the Midwest Regional final.

North Carolina won its 15th straight game in its bid to win its second NCAA title in four years. The Tar Heels beat Illinois in the 2005 championship game, and lost in overtime to Georgetown in the East Regional final last year.

The Tar Heels advanced to their 17th Final Four to tie UCLA for the most in NCAA history.

Jerry Smith, with 17 points, led third-seeded Louisville (27-9), which failed in its bid to reach the Final Four for the ninth time.

UCLA beat Xavier 76-57 Saturday to reach its third straight Final Four. The Bruins will play the winner of Sunday's game between Texas and Memphis.