CHARLOTTE — North Carolina is heading to the Sweet 16.
The Tar Heels (28-7) upended Washington 86-83 in the NCAA tournament third-round game on Sunday to advance to play in Newark, N.J. next weekend.
Washington (24-11) held a 45-44 lead at the half as the game stayed tight throughout. UNC pulled away with four minutes remaining after Harrison Barnes hit a 3-pointer to put the Tar Heels up for good at 78-76.
Scott Suggs nailed a 3-pointer with 17.3 seconds left to bring the Huskies within one. Kendall Marshall missed the front end of the ensuing 1-and-1 and gave the Huskies one last chance. But John Henson tipped the in-bounds pass and Dexter Strickland captured it.
Strickland went to the line and sank both free throws for the Tar Heels.
Tyler Zeller scored 23 and Harrison Barnes put in 22 to lead UNC.
Friday, North Carolina plays the winner of the Marquette-Syracuse game. That game tips off tonight at 7:30.
