Elite: Auburn routs top-seeded North Carolina 97-80, advances to Midwest Regional final

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Elite: Auburn routs top-seeded North Carolina 97-80, advances to Midwest Regional finalElite: Auburn routs top-seeded North Carolina 97-80, advances to Midwest Regional final
Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics

Jared Harper

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – How elite it is!

Advancing to the Elite Eight for the second time ever, the first since 1986, Auburn knocked off top-seeded North Carolina 97-80 Friday to reach Sunday's Midwest Regional final.

"Unbelievable. Amazing. It doesn't even seem real yet," said senior Bryce Brown, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half. "Knocking off UNC by almost 20 points. I don't know if there's another team that could do that besides us."

Leading 41-39 at the half, Auburn began the second half on an 8-0 run, thanks to 3-pointers from Jared Harper and Brown and a Malik Dunbar jumper to take a 49-39 lead.

Danjel Purifoy hit three 3-pointers in 1:11 to put Auburn ahead 73-57. Anfernee McLemore banked in a 3-pointer to make it 76-57 with 9:19 remaining.

"Once I shot the first one, [Auburn coach Bruce Pearl] kept feeding me and I just kept shooting it," Purifoy said.

Chuma Okeke dominated with 20 points and 11 rebounds before leaving with a knee injury with 8:08 to play.

"I'm really proud of our team," said Okeke, who, with his teammates' help, did the honors of advancing Auburn in the bracket in the locker room. "We were able to make history. We do not drop off when we go to our bench and we'll be ready for whoever we play on Sunday."

North Carolina cut the deficit to 11 before Harper hit a pair of free throws and Brown hit a 3-pointer, then made a steal and slam to make it 90-72.

Even Kentucky fans joined in the celebration, chanting "S-E-C." The Tigers will play the Wildcats Sunday at 1:20 p.m. CT on CBS and the Auburn Sports Network.

Auburn placed six players in double figures with Malik Dunbar scoring 13, Brown and Purifoy each adding 12, and Samir Doughty and J'Von McCormick each chipping in 10.

"That's who we are. We're best when everybody contributes," Pearl said.

Auburn again relied on the formula that has helped the Tigers assemble the nation's longest active win streak: 11 straight games: forcing turnovers, scoring in transition and making 3-pointers.

The Tigers outscored the Tar Heels 19-6 in points off turnovers, enjoyed a 15-6 advantage in fast-break points, and made 17 of 37 3-pointers, including a sizzling 12-for-18 in the second half when they outscored North Carolina 56-41.

"We did a good job being solid defensively and executing offensively," said Harper, who dished out 11 of Auburn's 21 assists.

Auburn led by two after a fast-paced first half that lived up to its track meet billing.

With Harper on the bench with two fouls, McCormick again sparked the Tigers off the bench, just as he did in the SEC Tournament championship game and the first round of the NCAA Tournament against New Mexico State.

The quickest player on the court, McCormick drove coast-to-coast with 3 seconds left as the Tigers closed the half on a 6-0 run.

"I was ready for that moment," McCormick said. "We knew before, they couldn't stay in front of me or Jared. I was either going to score or find my teammates. That's what I did."

In the first half, Okeke scored a 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead all players, helping Auburn match the Tar Heels 21-21 on the boards.

"We have a heavy heart because we lost one of our brothers," Pearl said. "Chuma was the best player on the floor, and we say that with all due respect."

Auburn (29-9) became the first team in NCAA Tournament history to defeat powerhouses Kansas and North Carolina in back-to-back games.

"I think it's another statement that we're making that our kids play pretty basketball," Pearl said. "I think it says a lot about the SEC. We're probably the fourth best team in the league, and yet, here we are."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer