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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- A lot from freshman Joseph Forte and a little bit of Tar Heels tradition turned out to be too much for
top-seeded Stanford.
Forte hit two huge 3-pointers and North Carolina, considered a
borderline pick for the NCAA Tournament at the outset, upset
Stanford 60-53 Sunday in the second round of the South Regional.
|  | | North Carolina's Julius Peppers drives against Stanford's Mark Madsen. |
"Maybe now we're pushing the right buttons," Tar Heels coach
Bill Guthridge said.
Ed Cota added 10 assists, seven points and seven rebounds as the
eighth-seeded Tar Heels (20-13) recorded their 30th straight 20-win
season. They also quieted, for now, speculation that Guthridge
should be replaced.
"We always feel like we're in the game. We just have to play
North Carolina ball," Cota said.
Forte finished with 17 points, sparking a decisive 10-0 run in
the closing minutes and punctuating his effort with a game-ending
dunk.
"I was struggling most of the game. Coach told me I was
shooting like I was scared and to not shoot at all if I'm going to
shoot scared," Forte said.
North Carolina improved to 9-0 overall against Stanford and more
important, moved on to face Tennessee on Friday in the regional
semifinals in Austin, Texas.
Stanford (27-4), ranked No. 1 for much of the season, joined
Arizona as top-seeded teams to lose in the second round.
"It is numbing to think the season is over," Cardinal coach
Mike Montgomery said. "Our seniors are the heart and soul of the
team."
David Moseley scored 17 points for Stanford, but emotional
leader Mark Madsen was limited to five.
Casey Jacobsen also had only five and was outplayed in
the freshman matchup with Forte. Jacobsen missed a pair of 3-point
tries near the end, and finished 2-for-12 from the floor.
"This team was special and it tears my heart out that I will
never get the chance to play with Madsen, Moseley and the rest of
the seniors again," Jacobsen said.
The game figured to be a battle of big men, pitting 7-foot
Brendan Haywood of North Carolina against Stanford's tall front
line. Instead, the guards decided it.
Cota played all 40 minutes for the second straight game, having
done it Friday night in a 84-70 win over Missouri. He looked tired
at the start, as did the rest of the Tar Heels, and Stanford took
an eight-point lead late in the first half.
But North Carolina went on a 14-0 run that spanned the break and
seemed to get fresher as the afternoon wore on.
Jarron Collins scored six points and his twin brother, Jason,
added a basket as the Cardinal went ahead 47-43 with nine minutes
left. After that, it was all Tar Heels.
After Haywood hit a hook shot, Forte had a driving layup to tie
it. Then, with the shot clock expiring, Forte made a 3-pointer from
the top of the key. After Jacobsen missed another long jumper,
Forte hit a 3 to make it 53-47.
With the Carolina faithful standing, Guthridge called over Cota
with 37 seconds left and told him, "We don't have to shoot
anymore."
He was right. After the Tar Heels made five foul shots to
protect the lead, Forte broke away from an emphatic slam for the
final points.
Ryan Mendez, a key contributor in Friday's 84-65 romp over South
Carolina State, had 12 points for the Cardinal.
Haywood, who a career-high 28 points in the opening round, had
12 and blocked four shots.
Teammates on the American team in the World University Games
last summer in Spain -- and e-mail buddies since then -- Madsen and
Haywood each had eight rebounds. During a timeout shortly before
halftime, they shared a laugh at midcourt and clasped hands.
Later, they spilled on the court chasing a loose ball.
"This was one of the most intense games I've ever played in,"
Madsen said.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
North Carolina NCAA Team Report
Stanford NCAA Team Report
Chat: NCAA Tourney
Vols eliminate defending champion UConn
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Bill Guthridge and his staff seem to be pushing the right buttons.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Mark Madsen says it really hurts to lose.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Mike Montgomery says Stanford did not put thier best foot forward.
wav: 159 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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