Lawson, Hansbrough And The Duke Push UNC Past Spartans 89-72

Posted by Jeff Sack under NCAA Championship Game, Slam Dunk NCAA

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Welcome back to reality Detroit! The auto-industry is in the dumper and you do not have a National Champion. With signs throughout Ford Field in Detroit proclaiming “Tonight We’re Gonna Party Like It’s 1979” the University of North Carolina Tar Heels were all business. UNC allowed three players Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough and Wayne “Duke” Ellington to lead them to the school’s fifth National Title defeating Michigan State Monday 89-72. The Tar Heels established a huge lead in the first half, taking the Spartans and the crowd out of the contest. The advantage was more than large enough to weather a run by Michigan State in the second.

The Tar Heels sent an early message to the Spartans and it reverberated through the stadium loud and clear. UNC was on a mission, and it would be up to Michigan State to stop them from completing it. North Carolina broke out to a 22-7 lead when Ty Lawson knocked one at the line with 13:57 on the clock.

The “Duke” Wayne Ellington would score 17 points in the first half and North Carolina led 55-34 at the half. (I just realized that in the history of collegiate athletics at UNC this may be the first time the name Duke is used in a positive manner!) The Spartans never got any closer than 13 points down in the second half. The festivities that lit up Detroit before the game started were over long before this contest ended.

Ty Lawson led all players with 21 points, 8 steals, 6 assists and 4 rebounds while Wayne Duke Ellington added 19 points and 4 rebounds. Tyler Hansbrough had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists while Ed Davis came off the bench with 11 points and 8 rebounds.

Center Goran Suton led the Spartans with a double-double 17 points, 11 boards and 2 blocks. Kalin Lucas put up 14 points and 7 assists while Durrell Summers came up strong off the bench scoring 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in the loss.

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