Atlantic Coast

North Carolina beats Gonzaga for sixth national championship

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:18 p.m. ET

Sports Illustrated, SI Wire/Sports Illustrated

North Carolina won its sixth national championship in school history in a tight game Monday night against Gonzaga, 71–65.

It was a sloppy game filled with fouls, and both teams struggled to make shots from the field. The game tightened up, though, in the final minutes.

Carolina was led by point guard Joel Berry II, who battled through ankle injuries in the tournament but scored a game-high 21 in the title game.

Gonzaga had a chance to tied the game down three with 22 seconds to go but Nigel Williams-Goss’s shot was blocked by Kennedy Meeks and the Zags turned it over after a quick Tar Heels basket, all but sealing their fate.

The Bulldogs have made the tournament in 19 consecutive seasons, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation, but had never advanced to the Final Four until this year.

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