No. 2 seed North Carolina beat No. 11 Marquette 81-63 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Thursday night in Newark, N.J.

The Tar Heels (29-7) built up a lead as large as 50-18 early in the second half. UNC advances to the East Region final and a match-up against the winner of Friday night’s Ohio State/Kentucky game.

Freshman forward Davante Gardner (King’s Fork) led Marquette (22-15) with 16 points on 6-for-9 field-goal shooting and 4-for-5 foul shooting. Gardner added six boards. It was Gardner’s second-highest scoring game this season.

Marquette lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season. This was the deepest postseason run for the Golden Eagles since the 2002-03 season when Dwyane Wade led Marquette to the Final Four.

Norfolk State sophomore John James (Nansemond River) won the high jump with a best mark of 6-feet-8.25 at the Tribe Open at William and Mary Saturday as the Spartan track team opened its outdoor season.

The Spartans are competing at the Raleigh Relays this weekend.

Norfolk State split a softball doubleheader versus visiting Hampton Thursday. NSU won game one 9-0 and HU won game two 5-4.

Junior Whitney Holland (King’s Fork) went 2-for-5 with two runs, four RBI and her first home run of the season in the doubleheader. Holland also went 12-for-12 on fielding chances at third base. Holland’s hitting .333 in six games for the Lady Spartans (5-12).

NSU hosts Savannah St. for a doubleheader Monday at 1 p.m.