Top-seeded Wisconsin eliminates UNC

LOS ANGELES — Forward Sam Dekker had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Wisconsin held off North Carolina 79-72 in a NCAA West Regional semifinal on Thursday at the Staples Center.

Forward Frank Kaminsky added 19 points and eight rebounds for the top-seeded Badgers (34-3), who advanced to the regional final. Wisconsin will meet the Xavier-Arizona winner on Saturday.

Forwards Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson scored 15 points apiece to lead fourth-seeded North Carolina (26-12).

The Badgers put together a 9-0 surge to wipe out a 60-54 lead by the Tar Heels and never looked back. A 3-pointer by Kaminsky, consecutive buckets by guard Zak Showalter and a layup by Dekker boosted Wisconsin to a 65-60 advantage with 5:13 remaining in the game.

North Carolina rallied, though, cutting the margin to 65-64 after a free throw by Johnson, but a 3-pointer by senior guard Josh Gasser and free throw by guard Traevon Jackson pushed the deficit back to five for Wisconsin.

Guard Marcus Paige’s trey with 1:43 left pulled North Carolina within 69-67, but Dekker scored inside again for a four-point Wisconsin lead. However, another Paige 3-pointer cut the lead to 71-70 with 54 seconds remaining.

Two foul shots by Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig made it 73-70 with 42 seconds left, which turned out to be the difference.

Traevon Jackson returned after missing 19 games with a broken foot and finished with four points.