GLENDALE, Ariz. – The University of North Carolina beat Gonzaga 71-65 for the NCAA men's basketball national championship.
Not only did Monday night's victory represent the sixth NCAA Tournament title for the North Carolina, it's also redemption for 2016 when they lost the championship game to Villanova on a three-point buzzer beater.
The victory also marks the third national title for coach Roy Williams, all coming since leaving Kansas to take over his alma mater in 2003.
The Tar Heels (33-7) went 14-4 in the ACC to capture the conference's regular season title, but slumped a bit ahead of the NCAA Tournament. They went 2-2 going into the tourney, including a loss to in-state rivals Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Despite that, they still captured the South Region's No. 1 seed, setting a record with their 16th such seeding.
In beating Gonzaga, the Tar Heels handed them just their second loss this season.
The Bulldogs finish with a season record of 37-2, with the only other loss coming in their regular season finale against BYU on Feb. 25.
Despite their No. 1 seed coming into the tournament, Gonzaga had never made the Final Four before this year. They've been a constant tournament presence since their first Cinderella run to the Elite Eight in 1999. That run includes three straight Sweet 16 appearances and the Elite Eight in 2015.