James Augustine, charged with stopping the 6-foot-9 center, was in foul trouble through most of it. He tried covering May one-on-one, and that didn’t work. Then, he got help, but when May felt the double coverage, he dished out to a wide-open Jawad Williams, who made a 3-pointer for a 60-53 lead.

But Illinois hung in, and that was no surprise. This was the team that rallied from 15 down with 4 minutes left against Arizona in the regional to make it to its first Final Four since 1989.

This time, though, the Illini could never get a lead. And after Head hit a 3-pointer with 2:40 left, Deron Williams missed on an open look, Felton stepped in front of a bad pass by Head, then Head missed the potential game-tying shot at the end.

In all, the Illini missed five 3-pointers down the stretch, part of a night in which they shot 12-for-40 from long range — a season high for attempts — and just 38 percent overall.

Felton finished with 17 points and seven assists and Rashad McCants had 14 for the Tar Heels, all in the first half.

Deron Williams scored 17 and Dee Brown had 12 for the Illini, but they needed a combined 39 shots to get there — and, in the end, the 27-for-70 shooting night just couldn’t be overcome.

The game turned in North Carolina’s favor during a 13-2 run over the last 4:58 of the first half.

Felton, McCants and Jawad Williams each hit 3-pointers during the stretch. More significantly, though, was the way the Tar Heels dominated on defense.

Head squirmed open for a twisting shot from point blank on the baseline, but it missed. Roger Powell Jr. rebounded but couldn’t get the ball to the rim — rejected twice by North Carolina’s inside players.

In the end, the Tar Heels won the matchup that was billed as Team vs. Talent — North Carolina with the talent and Illinois with the team.

It turned out Carolina really had both.

“A lot of people said we were just talented, but not a team,” May said. “But when times got tough, we banded together and came through. We showed we’re not just talented. We’re a team.”

And the team with the right coach, to boot.

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