North Carolina wins 2017 men's NCAA tournament

North Carolina won the NCAA men's national championship game on Monday night, defeating Gonzaga 71-65 in a title game that came down to the wire.

The Tar Heels claimed the win in spectacular March Madness fashion, earning the school's sixth national title. UNC was ready for redemption after last year's heartbreaking championship loss to Villanova.

NCAA National Championship game

North Carolina was the first to strike in Phoenix, but Gonzaga battled back and lead by three at the half. The Bulldogs held UNC to just 31 percent from the field in the first half, and the Tar Heels only shot 15 percent from three, while the Bulldogs shot 56 percent.

The Tar Heels started the second half with an 8-0 run, building their lead to five before Gonzaga coach Mark Few called a timeout. The Bulldogs then went on a run of their own, battling their way back. The lead frequently changed throughout the second half.

The game ultimately came down to the final minutes -- with less than two minutes left to play, the score was tied 65-65. After a big defensive stop, North Carolina was able to take the lead.

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Gonzaga fell short in the final but still made history. They defeated West Virginia and Xavier to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs knocked off South Carolina, beating the Gamecocks by four to make it to the title game.

UNC beat Butler and Kentucky to reach this year's Final Four, and then defeated Oregon to secure a spot in the championship.