National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
North Carolina 79, Maryland 76
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 16, 2013
Where: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Officials: # Brian Dorsey, # Karl Hess, # Ray Natili
Attendance: 22169

North Carolina 79, Maryland 76: Reggie Bullock recorded 15 points and nine rebounds as the third-seeded Tar Heels held off a late rally from the Terrapins in the semifinals of the ACC tournament at Greensboro, N.C.

Dexter Strickland also had 15 points and Marcus Paige scored five of his eight points late to seal it for North Carolina (24-9), which will play Miami (Fla.) in the championship game on Sunday. James Michael McAdoo and P.J. Hairston each chipped in with 13 points for the Tar Heels, who have won eight of their last nine.

Alex Len led the way with 20 points for seventh-seeded Maryland (22-12), which had a chance to tie it late but Logan Aronhalt’s long 3-pointer missed with 9 seconds left. Nick Faust added 17 points and Dez Wells had 15 for the Terrapins, who have dropped seven straight to North Carolina, including three this season.

Strickland had 11 points as North Carolina built its lead as high as 12 in the first half before settling for a 37-32 edge at intermission. North Carolina pushed the lead to 50-38 after a three-point play by McAdoo with 15:05 remaining.

Wells drained a 3-pointer to highlight a 12-2 run that brought the Terrapins back within three with 8:46 to go, but 3-pointers by Leslie McDonald and Bullock helped restore a 10-point lead. Len led Maryland back within 71-70 before Paige made a big basket with 2:50 left and the Terrapins could never tie or go ahead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hairston, playing in his hometown, required eight stitches after suffering a cut in the webbing between the ring and middle fingers of his left hand during the quarterfinal victory over Florida State on Friday. … Wells also had nine rebounds and four assists for Maryland. … North Carolina coach Roy Williams has 699 career wins.
Top Game Performances
 
Maryland   North Carolina
Alex Len 20 Scoring Reggie Bullock 15
Dezmine Wells 4 Assists Reggie Bullock 4
Dezmine Wells 9 Rebounds Reggie Bullock 9
Alex Len 10 Free Throws Made Leslie McDonald 6
Nick Faust 1 Steals Brice Johnson 2
N/A Blocks P.J. Hairston 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Maryland 76 41.0 8-21 18-26 14 38 0 4 10
North Carolina 79 44.3 7-21 18-26 12 32 3 6 7