PHOENIX — Last week in Memphis, with its national championship hopes on the line against Kentucky, North Carolina turned to its bench to find a hero. And Luke Maye answered the call. Saturday, with the Tar Heels facing a similarly precarious situation in their national semifinal game against Oregon, it was another reserve that stepped forward to save the day and perhaps the season. Nate Britt’s contribution wasn’t as memorable or dramatic as Maye’s career-best 17-point performance against the Wildcats in the NCAA South Region final, an effort punctuated by a last-second game-winning jumper. But by coming in late in the first half to ignite a spark under UNC’s stagnant offense. Britt gave his team the push it needed to earn a 77-76 victory at University of Phoenix Stadium and a spot in Monday’s national championship game against Gonzaga. “He was a big lift for us and that’s what we need,” teammate Joel Berry said of Britt, a senior point guard who began his college career as a starter but has played a reserve role since his sophomore year. “It’s not just about the starting five giving production, it’s about the guys on the bench outplaying the other team’s bench and Nate did a great job of giving us some production.” Britt’s stat line Saturday wasn’t the kind that will create headlines. He finished with five points on 2 of 3 shooting with three assists in 22 minutes. Three of the points and two of the assists, however, came during a pivotal stretch late in the first half in which the Tar Heels turned an eight-point deficit into a three-point halftime lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. “For me, coming off the bench and also being an experienced senior,” Britt said, “my job is to give us a lift whether it be on the offensive end or the defensive end.” UNC got off to a horrendous start against Oregon’s matchup zone defense, hitting on just six of its first 24 field goal attempts. With Berry struggling on two painful sprained ankles and the offense looking as though it was knee-deep in quicksand, the Tar Heels fell behind 30-22 with four minutes to go before halftime. They still trailed by six moments later when Berry entered the game and quickly made his presence felt. First he drove into the lane and fed Isaiah Hicks for a dunk on what turned out to be Hicks’ only basket of the night. Then he hit a 3-point from the top of the circle off a redirect from Hicks before driving into the lane again and dishing off to Meeks for a basket that put UNC ahead 37-36. “I was able to get in the defense in their matchup zone, found Isaiah and he dunked it,” Britt said. “Then Isaiah kicked it out to be for the three. They were just opportunities I took advantage of and I think they helped our team a little bit.” It was more than just a little bit, according to teammate Justin Jackson, “Nate knows this is his last go-around and for him, he’s doing whatever he can to help us and I’m proud of him,” Jackson said. “He just continues to play. No matter what, he keeps on playing and he helps us in so many ways.” That, Berry added, is a product of Britt’s maturity and his understanding and acceptance of his role. “When you talk about experience and the difference between one-and-dones and somebody that’s been around the program, that’s a perfect example right there,” Berry said of backcourt mate. “It just goes to show that you can bring a guy in who knows what to do and can make a play, because he’s been in that position before.”
