Joseph Forte's season-high 28 points allowed the Tar Heels to squeak past Tulsa in a close 59-55 victory. Tulsa's Dante Swanson kept the Golden Hurricanes in the game down the stretch by scoring seven points in the final 1:50, including a 3-pointer that brought the Golden Hurricane within 57-55 with 20 seconds to go. However, North Carolina was able to hold on in the final moments and ultimately advance to the Final Four for a tournament record 15 times.

Brandon Kurtz' 17 second-half points led Tulsa to their first regional final berth in school history after they beat sixth-seeded Miami 80-71. Tulsa (32-4) trailed the Hurricanes with just over 10 minutes to play in the second half, however, the Golden Hurricanes responded with a 22-5 run and never looked back. All five starters scored in the double figures as Tulsa rolled to the Elite Eight where they battled it out with North Carolina.