COL BKB: North Carolina 98, Gonzaga 77

MEMPHIS, March 28 (UPI) -- A near-perfect night by Tyler Hansbrough Friday lifted North Carolina to an easy 98-77 win over Gonzaga and a berth in the NCAA South Region final.

The Tar Heels became the fourth No. 1 seed to reach a regional final, keeping alive the possibility that the top seeds will all reach the Final Four for the second straight year. That had never happened prior to last season.

Hansbrough made 8-of-10 shots from the field and 8-of-9 from the foul line while scoring 24 points. Guard Ty Lawson, who missed the opening game of the tournament with a toe injury, contributed 19 points and nine assists. Wayne Ellington had 17.

North Carolina (30-4) shot 52 percent from the floor and made 11-of-19 from 3-point range.

The Tar Heels built an 11-point lead at the break, and then went on a 13-3 run to open the second half. They coasted from there to set up a meeting Sunday with second-seeded Oklahoma.

Fourth-seeded Gonzaga (28-5), which has become a regular in the NCAA Tournament but which has yet to break through with a Final Four trip, was led by Jeremy Pargo with 16.

This year's Elite Eight will consist of four teams from the Big East, two from the Big 12 and one each from the Big Ten and the ACC. The first two Final Four teams will be determined Saturday when Pittsburgh and Villanova meet in Boston and Connecticut faces Missouri in Glendale, Ariz.