DTH original: 1977 title game
By Gene Upchurch | March 23After announcing his retirement midway through the season, Marquette coach Al McGuire led his team, known then as the Warriors, to the NCAA tournament championship game after a thrilling victory against UNC-Charlotte in the semifinals. There, the Warriors met a North Carolina squad led by point guard Phil Ford and head coach Dean Smith, still in search of his first NCAA championship. _Marquette stunned UNC by jumping to a 12-point halftime lead. The Tar Heels stormed back in the first eight minutes of the second period, tying the game at 41 with 12 minutes to play. It was then that Smith employed his patented four corners stall technique. Unfortunately for UNC, Marquette was ready for it.