North Carolina Mount St. Mary's Live Coverage

Guide Note: In the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, the North Carolina Tar Heels takes on Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. This page will provide play-by-play live coverage of this game.

Fast Facts:

When: Friday March 21, 7:10 PM ET
Where: RBC Center in Raleigh, NC
Television Coverage: CBS Sports
Game Announcers: Jim Nantz and Billy Packer
North Carolina Head Coach: Roy Williams
Mount St. Mary's Head Coach: Milan Brown

Team	1st	2nd	SCORE
NCAA East Regional - FINAL
North Carolina Tar Heels	60	53	113
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers	41	33	74

UNC Mount St. Mary's Live Coverage Live Play-by-Play Coverage

End of Game

If anyone doubted the selection committee's decision to give North Carolina the #1 overall seed in the tournament, they aren't now. Yes, it was a 1 seed versus a 16 seed, but Mount St. Mary's really played tough and showed signs of life even when the game was clearly decided. It was just a clinic out there, with nearly every Tar Heel getting on the board and five players total in double figures. The final rebound tally was 45-15.

Second Half

0:00: Fans were booing there at the end that the last Heel playing who hadn't scored yet wouldn't get a chance
1:40: Everyone getting on the board today for UNC -- Surry Wood gets an alley-oop
1:55: Players of the Game announced -- Vann for MSM, and Lawson, whose ankle Heels fans were worried about, for UNC
3:00: Wooten scores again -- five for the game, five for the season...12 players total have scored for UNC
Dean: In watching the UNC bench, a number of guys are still involved in the game, jumping to their feet and arguing calls...a nice quality when up 40-plus
3:50: TIMEOUT
4:00: Jack Wooten scores his first bucket of the entire season for the Tar Heels
4:39: Stepheson to the line. He puts them over 100. MSM isn't giving them anything, they're still fouling, making it as tough as they can for what is now all subs for UNC
5:55: Cajou's no quitter either, he gets a nice long three
6:40: Vann is certainly not giving up for MSM, he gets a 2
7:01: Graves sinks two foul shots for UNC
Dean: Ginyard is the only starter still on the floor for UNC
7:10: TIMEOUT
Dean: The pace has slowed on both sides as each team knows the outcome.
9:05: TIMEOUT -- Packer said it, the Mount was brave to try to beat UNC at their own game and run with them, but it's just a different set of athletes.
9:35: Lawson again
10:01: Lawson with an awesome spin move for UNC
10:37: TIMEOUT -- MSM is only now starting to lose their fight. I don't know if UNC will win this tournament, but the Mount can find solace in the fact that no one in the country would have beaten the Heels tonight.
11:05: Green gets his first 2 for UNC
12:22: Thompson has had two quick buckets now, including another huge dunk
Dean: Wow, 5 Tar Heels in double figures, Nance just said.
13:20: TIMEOUT
13:35: Nice long three from Lawson for the Heels.
15:00: Atupem gets a jumper
15:51: Stepheson has had two big dunks in a row now
17:00: Ginyard got a little too cocky for UNC and missed a dunk
17:41: Goode stops the bleeding for MSM with 2 free throws
18:12: Thompson turnaround jumper for UNC
Dean: UNC's Lawson's ankle is fine, he just sank another jumper to make the lead 25
19:05: TIMEOUT
19:45: Hansbrough starts where he left off with a bucket and a foul, but misses the free throw
2nd Half gets under way

Halftime

There's just no better way to describe the Tar Heels' effort so far than "unstoppable." The Mountaineers are playing well...Chris Vann (10 pts) and Jean Cajou (8 pts) have stepped forward in particular. But UNC leads in rebounds, 26-8, and that includes almost as many offensive boards as defensive. Hansbrough is a machine; he's been double- and triple-teamed and it doesn't matter. In the rare instance that he doesn't either convert or get his own rebound and convert, another capable UNC player picks up the slack and makes something happen. This 19-point lead Carolina has feels like it's 90.

First Half

1:45: Just the way it's been going for MSM: Hansbrough finally misses a little tip but gets his own rebound and makes it
2:09: Vann gets one for the Mount as well, maybe they'll put together a little run, here. He got fouled and gets the free throw
2:31: Cajou is a standout for MSM, he gets a nice bucket
3:43: Foul on MSM's Goode against Hansbrough -- TIMEOUT -- Hansbrough plays at 110% no matter what the situation or who he's playing against, looks like he might've been cut during a struggle for the ball.
4:04: TIMEOUT: Nance just said this is already the most points MSM has allowed all season...
4:04: Ellington with a pretty 3
It's only ten points, but as soon as the Mount does something impressive, UNC comes back with second and third chances on their end and seem to ALWAYS convert. If Hansbrough isn't double-teamed he makes it every time.
7:05: Another miss and a follow by UNC, this time Stepheson
Dean: MSM is playing well but it doesn't matter, UNC can do no wrong. Hansbrough's getting triple teamed and he either makes it anyway or gets his own rebound and makes it or someone else simply steps in. Wow.
7:13: TIMEOUT
8:40: A deuce for UNC to answer a nice MSM bucket, and then an immediate steal by Lawson. He's fouled and makes both
9:51: Ty Lawson hits 2 free throws for the Heels. Seems like the Mounts fouling like a boxer holds onto the other guy when he's down
Dean: Seems like the rims are awfully unforgiving tonight for both teams, lots of in-and-out three-pointers...
10:36: TIMEOUT
10:55: MSM can hit from outside, there's a three
11:14: Hansbrough with another huge dunk
Dean: The Mount is trying to hang in there, but the talent is too much for them so far. UNC seems to get every board.
11:28: TIMEOUT
11:54: UNC gets O board after O board and Stepheson finally converts to make it 10 pts
12:51: Graves is on the board for UNC
13:19: TV TIMEOUT, Hansbrough's at the line after the break
14:20: Ellington's hot for the Heels, he gets another bucket to push the lead back to 5
15:00: Atupem's not intimidated, he gets a bucket after a nice feed.
16:00: Wow, nice drive by Ginyard for UNC
16:45: Nice shot by MSM to make it a 4-pt game
17:01: The pace slowed a bit, UNC gets a free throw to make it 11-5
17:40: And MSM gets a steal! But nothing comes of it
18:00: MSM gets their first bucket, it's Thompson
18:52: Ellington with a 3 for UNC
MSM wins the tip! BUT -- Stolen by Hansbrough and he dunks bigtime

UNC Mount St. Mary's Live Coverage Bracket

North Carolina is the top seed in the East Region, having won both the ACC Regular Season and conference tournament championships. Their opponent, Mount St. Mary's, won the NCAA Play-in Game, defeating Coppin State 69-62. The Mountaineers earned a spot in the tournament by winning the Northeast Conference Tournament.

Mahalo Sports will be providing LIVE COVERAGE of the NCAA Tournament, also known as MARCH MADNESS. Game coverage begins on March 20th, and continues with every game of the tournament, right through to the National Championship. For an overview of today's action, CLICK HERE.

2008 East Region Bracket

All games airing on CBS

First Round March 20 & 21 Sites TBD			Second Round March 22 & 23 Sites TBD			Regional Semifinals March 27 Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte NC			Finals March 29 Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte NC

1	North Carolina	113
16	Mount St. Mary's	74
			1	North Carolina	108

			9	Arkansas	77
8	Indiana	72

9	Arkansas	86
						1	North Carolina	68

						4	Washington St.	47
5	Notre Dame	68

12	George Mason	50
			5	Notre Dame	41

			4	Washington St.	61
4	Washington St.	71

13	Winthrop	40
									1	North Carolina	83

									3	Louisville	73
6	Oklahoma	72

11	Saint Joseph	64
			6	Oklahoma	48

			3	Louisville	78
3	Louisville	79

14	Boise State	61
						3	Louisville	79

						2	Tennessee	60
7	Butler	81

10	South Alabama	61
			7	Butler	71

			2	Tennessee	76
2	Tennessee	72

15	American	57

UNC Mount St. Mary's Game Live Coverage News

Topix.net: North Carolina Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Live Coverage
Google News: North Carolina Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Live Coverage

UNC Mount St. Mary's Live Coverage Blogs and Commentaries

Google Blog Search: North Carolina Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Live Coverage

UNC Mount St. Mary's Live Coverage Pre-Game Analysis

The top seeded team in the East Region, as well as for the entire tournament, North Carolina claimed both the regular season and conference tournament championships in the ACC this past season. Despite the season ending injury to Bobby Frasor and the the loss of point guard Ty Lawson for an important stretch of games, the Tar Heels earned the top spot in the tournament grid in large part from the play of national player of the year candidate Tyler Hansbrough. The senior averaged a double-double for the season (23 points and 10 rebounds per game), and his intensity rubbed off on his teammates. The Tar Heels are one of the storied programs in college basketball, having appeared in the Final Four 16 times, most recently in 2005. They've also captured 4 national championships. Last season, they were the number one seed in the East, but lost to Georgetown in the regional final. Mount St. Mary's enters the tournament having qualified by winning the championship tournament in the Northeast Conference. They are lead by the backcourt duo of Chris Vann and Jeremy Goode, who combined to average 29 points per game this season. Counting the conference tournament and their win over Coppin State in the play-in game, the Mountaineers have won 9 of their last 10 games, and have rebounded from an 0-4 start to the season. They've lost their previous two tournament appearances, both times as the #16 seed: to Kentucky in 1995, and to Michigan State in 1999.