Tar Heel takedown

The team that commenced the 2008–09 season with the No. 1 ranking ended the season as the nation’s definitively best college basketball team.

North Carolina defeated Michigan State, 89-72, in front of 72,292 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

The game was out of hand early on as the Tar Heels took a commanding 36-13 lead midway through the first half. North Carolina shot 45 percent from the field and hit 28 free throws as they overwhelmed the underdog Spartans, who had previously defeated two No. 1 seeds in Louisville and Connecticut.

Senior All-American forward Tyler Hansbrough had 18 points and seven rebounds, but it was the depth of the Tar Heels that led to the convincing victory for North Carolina and head coach Roy Williams, who won his second national championship in five years.

Junior point guard Ty Lawson had 21 points to lead all scorers and also swiped a record eight steals away from the hometown Michigan State. Senior guard Wayne Ellington had 19 shots and hit all three of his three-point attempts as North Carolina demonstrated their strength and talent throughout the game.