CHARLOTTE — Iowa State entered Sunday’s game believing that if it played the same game that allowed the team to win 11 of it last 14 games, it could press and run North Carolina off the court.
By halftime, the Cyclones’ Will Blalock and Curtis Stinson were taking their time bringing the ball up the court, desperately trying to slow down a game that was running away from them.
UNC routed the Cyclones, 92-65, to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000.
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The Tar Heels (29-4) toasted Iowa State with a 19-2 half-spanning run, extending a three-point lead to 20 before cruising to a 27-point win.
By the end of the game, North Carolina had blown past the Cyclones (19-12), keyed by Raymond Felton’s relentless fast break.
“They seemed exhausted,” Felton said. “We just kept running them, kept running them, kept running them. We just have the attitude that no one in the country can run with us. Not being cocky, but it’s just having confidence in the way we play, the way our offense is.”
Felton ran that offense to perfection, scoring 15 points and dishing out eight assists without turning over the ball. The junior’s penetration opened up the game for Sean May and Marvin Williams, who were dominant in the low post. May scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while Williams posted 20 and 15 off the bench and had a double-double by halftime.
Despite their prolific performances on the offensive end, Williams and May struggled to contain Iowa State’s Jared Homan, who finished with 19 points and 20 rebounds.