HOUSTON -— Marcus Paige made three 3-pointers in the second half to help North Carolina get untracked from long-range and stifle a Syracuse rally for an 83-66 victory that moved the Tar Heels one win from the program’s sixth title.
The Tar Heels (33-6) were 0 for 11 from 3-point range midway through the second half, and Syracuse trimmed a 17-point deficit to seven before Paige found his range. He hit three 3s over the span of seven minutes to end Syracuse chances.
Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson led North Carolina with 16 points each. Paige finished with 13.
North Carolina, the only No. 1 seed in the Final Four, will play No. 2 Villanova on Monday for the title.
Syracuse (23-14), the first No. 10 seed to make the Final Four, got 22 points from Trevor Cooney
