DAYTON, Ohio — Michigan State? Gone. Defending national champion North Carolina? Gone, too.

Any more questions about whether George Mason belongs in the NCAA Tournament?

Didn't think so.

The upstart Patriots turned North Carolina a whole different shade of blue yesterday, knocking the third-seeded Tar Heels out with a 65-60 victory that set up a mid-major matchup in the Sweet 16.

George Mason (25-7) will play Wichita State on Friday in the Washington Regional semifinals, pitting the Colonial Athletic Association against the Missouri Valley's regular-season champion. The Patriots won, 70-67, at Wichita State last month.

"There's been talk about the Missouri Valley all year," said Lamar Butler, who led the Patriots with 18 points. "Hardly anyone has talked about the CAA. It's hard to believe we're both in the Sweet 16."

Not for Michigan State or North Carolina, the two pedigree programs that got upset — if that's the right term — by an at-large team from an overlooked league. George Mason is the first Colonial Athletic team to make the round of 16 since Richmond did it in 1988, and only the third overall.

"The last comment I made to them was, 'What color is kryptonite?' " coach Jim Larranaga said. "They said, 'Green.' I said, 'Look at your jerseys. You have everything you need to win this game.' "

North Carolina (23-8) lost its top seven scorers from last season's title team, forcing coach Roy Williams to use four freshmen much more than he'd prefer.

Three of them were on the floor at various times yesterday, and played down to their age for the first time since early in the season.

"We're going to cry about it, be sad, but it just wasn't our time," said senior forward David Noel, who was on the floor for the final seconds of last year's title game.

Forwards Will Thomas and Jai Lewis dominated up front, and the Patriots shocked the Tar Heels by going to a newly installed zone defense in the first half to climb out of a 16-2 hole.

In the second half, the Patriots went back to their man-to-man defense and beat the Tar Heels straight up.

George Mason went 9 of 12 from the line in the final 3 minutes to pull away.

CONNECTICUT 87, KENTUCKY 83

PHILADELPHIA — The eagerly anticipated first meeting between Connecticut and Kentucky proved well worth the wait.

Connecticut took control early, then survived a strong comeback bid by the Wildcats in a victory yesterday.

Marcus Williams scored 20 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds, and Rudy Gay had 19 for Connecticut (29-3), which next faces Washington in the semifinals of the Washington Regional. UConn defeated Washington in the round of 16 seven years ago.

Patrick Sparks scored a career-high tying 28 points for No. 8 seed Kentucky (22-13).

UConn led by 12 at halftime and 13 with 13:37 remaining, but the Wildcats got within 74-72 with 3:16 to go.

Kentucky was 17 of 30 in the second half, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range.

Kentucky and Connecticut have combined for nine NCAA titles but the two elite teams never faced each other until yesterday.