LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Dekker scored a career-high 23 points, Frank Kaminsky added 19 and top-seeded Wisconsin rallied in the final 10 minutes to hold off North Carolina 79-72 on Thursday night and advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Reserve Zak Showalter scored six points in the Badgers' 19-7 run that sent them into the West Regional final Saturday against either No. 2 seed Arizona or sixth-seeded Xavier.

Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson scored 15 points each for the fourth-seeded Tar Heels (26-12), who got within one point with 4:21 remaining but couldn't retake the lead they owned for much of the second half.

Marcus Paige hit consecutive 3-pointers that drew Carolina within one with 54 seconds to go, but Wisconsin (34-3) made all eight of its free throws — four by Kaminsky — over the closing seconds.

Paige added 12 points for the Tar Heels.

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MIDWEST REGION

NOTRE DAME 81, WICHITA STATE 70

CLEVELAND (AP) — Demetrius Jackson scored 20 points and third-seeded Notre Dame dominated Wichita State to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in 36 years.

The Irish (32-5) shot 75 percent (18 of 24) in the second half, easily pulling away from the seventh-seeded Shockers (30-5). Pat Connaughton added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Notre Dame and Jerian Grant had nine points and 11 assists as the Irish won their eighth straight.

Notre Dame will play either unbeaten Kentucky or West Virginia on Saturday night with a Final Four spot on the line.

Fred VanVleet led Wichita State with 25 points, Darius Carter had 19 points and eight rebounds but guard Ron Baker had just nine points and went scoreless in the second half.