On the cyber court Tar Heels Prevail

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 9:19 a.m.

In the real world, they won't crown the NCAA champion until Monday night in San Antonio. But in the land of virtual reality, they're dancing in the streets in Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Carolina emerged victorious in a computer-generated "Cyber Four," defeating Stanford 73-54 in the championship game. The Tar Heels downed Utah 63-49 in the second national semifinal after the Cardinal had upset Kentucky 65-60 in the first game.

The results were achieved through Cactus League Basketball, a computer simulation/game that can be purchased via the Internet or by mail order.

Carolina's 1-2 punch of Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter proved too strong for the Tar Heels' cyber opponents. Jamison finished with 26 points (on 11-for-16 shooting) and snared 11 rebounds in the championship game. Carter added 13 points and six rebounds. Against Utah, Jamison had 18 points and 10 boards with Carter adding 17 points.

Stanford trailed the title game 37-34 at halftime before Carolina went on a second-half run with Tim Young, the Cardinal's 7-1 center, saddled on the bench with foul trouble. Young was limited to four points in 14 minutes before fouling out.

The Cardinal had trouble negotiating Carolina's swarming defense, connecting on just 16 of 61 field-goal attempts (.262).

In the semifinals, Stanford and Kentucky were tied 60-60 with 1:18 to play before the Cardinal scored the game's final five points. Arthur Lee topped Stanford with 18 points while Jeff Sheppard paced Kentucky with 12.

In the second semi, cold-shooting Utah (32 percent) rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to close within 54-49 on a twisting jumper by Hanno Mottola with 4:15 to play. But the Utes could get no closer.

Rick Majerus, Tubby Smith and Mike Montgomery could not be reached for comment on their Cyber Four defeats, but one could have predicted how they might have reacted.

"Losing -- even in the Cyber Four -- really bytes."