DAYTON, OHIO ? A whole new cast looked nothing like defending champs the first time out in the NCAA Tournament.

In the end, four freshmen made it turn out all right.

Murray State, a team with all of one NCAA victory in its history, took third-seeded North Carolina down to the closing seconds Friday night before the Tar Heels pulled out a 69-65 first-round victory.

Underscoring how much North Carolina (23-7) has changed in a year: Four freshmen scored the Tar Heels’ final 29 points. Tyler Hansbrough led the way with 24 overall, his 14th 20-point game – a Carolina freshman record.

“If he was any better looking, I’d want to kiss him after every game,” coach Roy Williams said. “I’ve never seen a freshman more focused.”

It wasn’t secure until Marcus Ginyard – yes, another freshman – made two free throws with 16.5 seconds left for a 69-65 lead.

The Tar Heels play George Mason in the second round of the Washington Regional.

Fourteenth-seeded Murray State (24-7) was trying to become the first team in 10 years to knock out a defending champion in the first round. The last champ to make such an early exit was UCLA, which was seeded fourth when it lost to Princeton, 43-41, in 1996.

Trey Pearson led Murray State with 18 points, but missed a critical three-point attempt with 20 seconds left.

Connecticut 72, Albany 59

Philadelphia – The Huskies’ skill and experience was too much for Albany. Marcus Williams scored a season-high 21, helping top-seeded Connecticut (28-3) overcome a 12-point, second-half deficit. Jamar Wilson had 19 points for Albany (21-11).

George Mason 75, Michigan State 65

Dayton, Ohio – The 11th-seeded Patriots used hot shooting, a balanced attack and a surprising rebounding superiority to upset sixth-seeded Michigan State. Folarin Campbell scored 21 and made all eight of his shots from the field for George Mason (24-7). Maurice Ager scored 27 for Michigan State (22-12).

Kentucky 69, UAB 64

Philadelphia – The eighth-seeded Wildcats got a career-high 25 points from Bobby Perry to beat UAB. Perry had little help offensively, as no other Wildcat scored in double figures.

Kentucky (22-12) will play top-seeded Connecticut Sunday in the second round.