UNC vs. Wisconsin: Live Score, Highlights and Reaction for Sweet 16

Sam Dekker had a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the West Region’s No. 1 seed Wisconsin to 79-72 victory over No. 4 North Carolina and a second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight.

The Badgers (34-3) trailed 60-56 with just over seven minutes to play in the second half before a Frank Kaminsky triple sparked the 9-0 run that would give his team the lead for good.

Kaminsky came alive in the second half after struggling to get going over the first 20 minutes.

Frank The Tank missed five of his first seven shots and was a non-factor for much of the first half before finishing with a typical line of 19 points and eight rebounds.

North Carolina (26-12) led by two at the break behind strong play from Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson.

It was able to get out in transition and speed up the game against the notoriously deliberate and methodical Badgers.

The Tar Heels big men, including Kennedy Meeks, who started and logged significant minutes despite being a game-time decision with a badly sprained knee, found themselves in early foul trouble, which allowed the Badgers more space to operate inside.

Marcus Paige came up big with his team trailing in the closing minutes, connecting on a pair of contested, clutch threes to get within one, but Wisconsin shut the door at the free-throw line.

Paige finished the game with 12 points.

Johnson and Jackson contributed a team-high 15 points each.

Wisconsin advances the the regional final where they’ll await the winner of No. 2 Arizona and No. 6 Xavier.