UNC Charlotte Douse Flames 77-62

Illinois-Chicago couldn't diffuse DeMarco Johnson or contain Sean Colson.

The two seniors led North Carolina Charlotte to a 77-62 victory in the first round of the NCAA East Regional on Thursday, ending the Flames' first appearance in the tournament and securing a much-hyped matchup against North Carolina.

The top-ranked and top-seeded Tar Heels advanced with a 88-52 victory over Navy earlier Thursday. Their matchup with the 49ers in Saturday's second round will be the first meeting between the in-state rivals.

"We just kept saying we had to get past UIC," Colson said. "I think we did a good job not overlooking them."

Johnson scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Colson scored 18 points and had 13 assists as ninth-seeded UNCC (20-10) surged in the second half to pull away in a fast-paced and frenetic game.

"They're a great combination and they really showed it against us today," Illinois-Chicago coach Jimmy Collins said.

Anthony Coomes scored 11 of his 19 points in the second half but it wasn't enough for the ninth-seeded UIC (22-6), one of four teams in the NCAA tournament for the first time. Theandre Kimbrough added 10 points.

Along with exploiting UIC's weak post game, UNCC also was beat UIC with a taste of its own medicine, going 8-for-16 from 3-point range. UIC, fourth in the nation from beyond the arc (42 percent), finished 6-for-21.

"It was our intent to stop their perimeter game," UNCC coach Melvin Watkins said. "We double-teammed and changed things around and most players got a hand on those shooters."

One of those shooters was Mark Miller, the Flames' leading scorer, who was held to eight points, 12 below his average.

"We wanted to really concentrate on making sure he had to take really tough shots," Watkins said.

Johnson seemed to have little problems making his. He made his first five baskets and scored 18 of his points in the first half, which was played at sometimes dizzying speeds and featured five ties and 10 lead changes.

Johnson scored 12 of his points as the 49ers opened a 19-13 lead. The Flames climbed back into a tie with a 6-0 burst, but later trailed 33-28 when Colson hit UNCC's third straight 3.

"We knew we would have an advantage inside," DeMarco said. "Luckily, I started out aggressive and my shots started to fall. Early on when they played me 1-on-1, my eyes got a little big and I really went inside."

Leading 36-31 at halftime, the 49ers scored 13 of the first 18 points of the second half for a 49-36 lead, keeping their cool even while Johnson had to sit for a while after taking a shot to his left thigh.

"The first half was actually a good ball game," Coomes said. "We didn't have any jitters. They basically outplyed us."

UNCC won another game for Charles Hayward, the recruit who has missed his entire freshman season after being diagnosed with leukemia. The 49ers are wearing jerseys with small green circle surround Hayward's No. 45.

Hayward, who is undergoing chemotherapy and is awaiting a bone marrow transplant, had to watch the game from home because doctors have not cleared him to travel.

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