NIT: North Carolina 76, Mississippi State 74

North Carolina guard Larry Drew II (11) forces a layup past Mississippi State forward Jarvis Varnado (32) in the final seconds to help the Tar Heels win their NIT college basketball game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, March 20, 2010. North Carolina won 76-74. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Associated PressSTARKVILLE, Miss. — Larry Drew II kept North Carolina alive in the postseason.

He hit a shot over center Jarvis Varnado with 2 seconds to play to give the Tar Heels a 76-74 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday in the second round of the NIT.

The 6-foot-2 point guard drove to the basket and was able to get the shot over the 6-9 Varnado, who was second in the nation this season with 4.8 blocks per game.

"I saw Jarvis on my right, and I just wanted to give it a chance to go in," Drew said. "It was all instinct. I just wanted to get a shot off."

Will Graves made a contested 3-pointer — his fourth of the game — with 31 seconds left to give the Tar Heels a 74-72, Barry Stewart tied it for the Bulldogs (24-12) with two free throws, setting the stage for Drew's game-winner.

"After they hit their free throws, I told Larry just to push it," UNC coach Roy Williams said.

He did just that, sending a high-arcing, left-hander over Varnado, the NCAA's career blocks leader.

"He was coming at me, and I knew he was going to take the shot," MSU center Jarvis Varnado said." He made one hell of a layup, give him credit."

Mississippi State was only able to get off a halfcourt heave at the final buzzer.

Graves was 6 of 10 from the field, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. John Henson had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Stewart led the Bulldogs with 18 points while Concord native Dee Bost and Varnado added 14 points each.

North Carolina (18-16) will face UAB on Tuesday, with a trip to New York and the semifinals on the line.