North Carolina 74, Tennessee 69

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Even in a down year, North Carolina can still find a way to make the final eight. <br><br>Ed Cota spurred a late second-half comeback, then he and freshmen Joseph Forte and Julius

Friday, March 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Even in a down year, North Carolina can still find a way to make the final eight.

Ed Cota spurred a late second-half comeback, then he and freshmen Joseph Forte and Julius Peppers hit six straight free throws in the final 34.9 seconds, giving the Tar Heels a 74-69 victory over Tennessee and another stunning upset.

Eighth-seeded North Carolina (21-13), fresh off beating the South's top seed Stanford, overcame a 51-42 deficit by holding the fourth-seeded Volunteers (26-7) without a field goal for nearly the last seven minutes.

The Tar Heels are headed to the regional final for the sixth time in 10 years. They'll play seventh-seeded Tulsa (32-4), which has never gotten this far. The contrast could be a factor as North Carolina has made the Final Four every time it has made the final eight since 1991, winning it all in '93.