PHILADELPHIA – North Carolina returns to the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2017, beating Saint Peter’s 69-49. The Tar Heels disbanded Saint Peter’s debut team to get there and will face their longtime rival Duke in the national semifinal. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE AT FOXNEWS.COM North Carolina Armando Bacot reacts during the first half of a college basketball game against St. Louis. Peter’s in Round Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo / Chris Szagola) Armando Bacot and Brady Manek were among those who took the lead for the Tar Heels. Bacot finished with 20 points and 22 rebounds, including eight offensive boards. He added two blocks to North Carolina’s victory. Manek was 7-for-11 from the field, including 4-from-6 from the three-point line. Manek finished with 19 points and eight rebounds in the victory. Caleb Love added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists. North Carolina started the first half taking advantage of Saint Peter’s failures. The Tar Heels won 7-0 before Peacocks striker Hassan Dame scored a three-pointer to enter the table about 5 minutes after the game. With 11:40 left for the first half, Saint Peter’s was 3-for-13 from the field while North Carolina was 4-for-14. Then North Carolina would use a 12-2 streak to jump to a 14-point lead. KANSAS OVERCOME IN MIAMI IN THE 2nd HALF, REACHES THE 16TH FINAL FOR Armando Bacot of North Carolina, left, hangs on the edge after diving into St. Peter’s Clarence Rupert during the first half of a college basketball game in Round Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo / Chris Szagola) North Carolina entered the break with 41.7% while Saint Peter’s remained at 22.6% and was 1 to 11 beyond the arc. North Carolina also won out on Saint Peter’s 26-19. North Carolina had a 21-point lead at halftime. Fousseyni Drame had 12 points and seven rebounds from the bench in defeat. KC Ndefo had 10 points, seven rebounds, six blocks, three assists and three steals. Saint Peter’s, who entered the tournament as No. 15, became the first such seed to reach the Elite Eight. The Peacocks beat Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue to reach the regional finals. Their course became one of Cinderella’s best stories in recent memory, but they just fell apart. North Carolina returns to the Final Four – for the first time under coach Hubert Davis. He took over Roy Williams, who retired after the 2020-21 season. North Carolina Armando Bacot fights for a loose ball with St. Louis in the center. Peter’s Doug Edert, left and KC Ndefo during the first half of a college basketball game in Round Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo / Chris Szagola) Davis will lead the Tar Heels in the ultimate rivalry against Duke. Coach Mike Krzyzewski led Duke to a Final Four for the 13th time and in his last run he would want nothing more than to end his coaching career with a national championship. CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION The Final Four is set for April 2 with the national championship taking place on April 4. The games will take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
