DETROIT - In a game that matched two teams on a mission, North Carolina found itself fulfilling the wishes of four players who returned after a disappointing Final Four last year to cut down the nets at Ford Field.
The Tar Heels built a lead that grew to as many as 24 in the first half tonight, then used it as a cushion to repel any attempts by Michigan State to come back, gaining an 89-72 victory over the Spartans to win the national championship before a record crowd of 72,922.
Carolina (34-4) finished an impressive NCAA run that saw it defeat six opponents, including Villanova, by an average of 20.2 points, winning no game by fewer than 12. It marked the Tar Heels' fifth national championship, tying Indiana for third all-time, and enabled Roy Williams to become the 13th head coach to win more than one.
Junior Wayne Ellington, the former Episcopal Academy star, scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half when the Tar Heels built their sizable advantage and set a championship game record with 55 points.
Junior point guard Ty Lawson scored 21 points, dished out six assists and set a title game record with eight steals. Senior Tyler Hansbrough added 18 points.
Those three players, along with senior Danny Green, all resolved to return to the team and not test the NBA waters after losing in the national semifinals last year. Their plan paid off in a big way.
The Spartans (31-7), who said they wanted to win to give economically depressed Detroit area something to smile about, committed 14 turnovers in falling behind by 21 points at the half.
They couldn't muster a comeback of any significance early in the second half even though the Tar Heels made only three of their first 16 shots from the field in the opening 10-plus minutes.
The best they could do during this time was close to 68-53 on a free throw by Draymond Green with 9 minutes, 32 seconds left.
The Spartans, who sank only one of their first 10 three-point attempts in the second half, kept grinding. Carolina failed to convert a pair of one-and-one opportunities. Michigan State got a three-ball from Goran Suton and six free throws, including a pair by Kalin Lucas with 4:47 to play that closed the gap to 76-63.
But the Tar Heels got a nifty drive from Lawson, who went behind the back and split two defenders. He later nailed two free throws and Bobby Frasor got a layup off a turnover, and Carolina was home free at 84-65 with 2:30 to play.
Suton led the Spartans with 17 points and Lucas added 14.
