Mar 25, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Michael Gbinije (0) scores the go-ahead basket against Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kyle Wiltjer (33) during the second half in a semifinal game in the Midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Michael Gbinije scored 20 points and Tyler Lydon blocked a shot in the final seconds as Syracuse rallied for a 63-60 victory over Gonzaga on Friday in an NCAA Tournament Midwest Region semifinal.
Trevor Cooney scored 15 points for the 10th-seeded Orange (22-13), who advanced to play top-seeded Virginia on Sunday in the region final.
Syracuse erased a nine-point deficit in the final seven minutes to move within one win of its sixth appearance in the Final Four.
Kyle Wiltjer led the Bulldogs with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. Domantas Sabonis had 19 points and 17 rebounds for 11th-seeded Gonzaga (28-8).
The Orange grabbed a 61-60 lead with 22 seconds remaining after Gbinije followed his own missed shot and put back a layup.
Cooney attempted to steal a pass on the Bulldogs’ next possession, but officials determined that he stepped on the baseline. Lydon blocked a shot by Gonzaga’s Josh Perkins with less than two seconds left and sealed the victory with two free throws.
North Carolina 101, Indiana 86
PHILADELPHIA — The Tar Heels used a significant size and experience advantage inside to roll to victory over the Hoosiers in an East Region semifinal.
North Carolina (31-6), the top seed in the region, faces No. 6 Notre Dame on Sunday with a Final Four berth in Houston next weekend on the line.
Indiana (27-8) committed seven team fouls in the first 3:56 of the second half, allowing the Tar Heels to get to the charity stripe 23 times after the break. North Carolina set a season high in makes (26) and were one shy in attempts (33).
Brice Johnson (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Kennedy Meeks (15 points, nine boards) were two of five Tar Heels in double figures, the 16th time this season the Tar Heels have had a quintet get 10 or more. Marcus Paige (21), and Justin Jackson and Nate Berry II (14 apiece) were the others.
Yogi Ferrell led the Hoosiers with 25 points in his final collegiate performance. Troy Williams chipped in 21 for Indiana.
Notre Dame 61, Wisconsin 56
PHILADELPHIA — A steal and layup by Demetrius Jackson with 13 seconds left helped the Fighting Irish reach the Elite Eight with a thrilling victory over the Badgers.
Notre Dame won the East Region semifinal with an 8-0 run in the final half-minute. Wisconsin took a 56-53 lead with 26 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Vitto Brown, but Jackson wasn’t going to let that be the last big shot.
Jackson cut the lead to one on a driving layup with 19 seconds left and picked off the inbounds pass and put his team up one seconds later.
The Fighting Irish forced three turnovers in the final 15 seconds, with foul shots by V.J. Beachem and Jackson sealing the win.
Beachem finished with 19 points and Jackson had 16 despite starting 1 for 10 from the floor. Zach Auguste added 13 points and 12 rebounds for Notre Dame.
Wisconsin got 14 points and 12 rebounds from freshman Ethan Happ, who fouled out with 47 seconds left after putting the Badgers up by two points. Junior Zak Showalter and senior Nigel Hayes added 11 points apiece.
Virginia 84, Iowa State 71
CHICAGO — Anthony Gill had 23 points and eight rebounds and the Cavaliers led wire-to-wire en route to victory over the Cyclones in the Midwest Region semifinals.
Mike Tobey added 18 points and seven rebounds for top-seeded Virginia (29-7). Malcolm Brogdon and Isaiah Wilkins scored 12 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who moved within one win of their first Final Four appearance since 1984.
Fourth-seeded Iowa State (23-12) lost in the region semifinal for the second time in the past three seasons. The Cyclones fell behind by 17 points in the first half and never recovered.
Georges Niang led the Cyclones with 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field in his final collegiate game. Matt Thomas added 12 points
