Eastern Michigan: Sweet 16 Surprise

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - When it mattered most, Eastern Michigan seized its opportunities and Penn State didn't.

As a result, the Mid-American Conference champions are in the NCAA Tournament's final 16 for the first time.

Lorenzo Neely scored five points in overtime yesterday as Eastern Michigan beat Penn State 71-68 in the East Regional. There were 20 lead changes and eight ties and neither team led by more than five points.

``They had some breaks but they couldn't capitalize on them,'' said Neely, who finished with 18 points.

Penn State (21-11) had several opportunities, but James Barnes missed two free throws in the final 63 seconds of regulation and Freddie Barnes missed a pair of three-pointers in the final four seconds of overtime.

Eastern Michigan (26-6), a first-round loser in 1988 in its only previous NCAA appearance, plays top-seeded North Carolina Friday in the regional semifinals at East Rutherford, N.J.

Penn State fell behind 62-58 in overtime but scored the next five points as Marcus Kennedy and Kory Hallas fouled out on back-to-back plays.

Eastern Michigan then rallied with its big men on the bench. Charles Thomas scored off a blocked Penn State shot for a 64-63 lead, and Neely and Carl Thomas each sank a pair of free throws.

Roger Lewis's layup with 29 seconds left gave Eastern a 70-66 lead, and Neely made a final free throw with 10.4 seconds to go.

Kennedy scored 21 points, including 17 after the first half.

NORTH CAROLINA 84, VILLANOVA 69.

- SYRACUSE, N.Y. - North Carolina powered its way into NCAA Tournament's final 16 for the 11th straight season as George Lynch led an 11-0 first-half spurt.

North Carolina used a 7-0 run to pull away from the Wildcats in the second half. North Carolina made its move after Villanova cut a 15-point Tar Heel lead to 66-59 with 8:24 left.

After calling timeout, North Carolina (27-5) responded with a 7-0 run that started and ended with baskets by Lynch, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Lance Miller scored 17 points and Greg Woodard added 15 for Villanova (17-15). The Tar Heels held the Wildcats to 41 percent from the field.