CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (Ticker) -- After nearly blowing a lead late in the second half, Georgetown got a trip to New York thanks to an unlikely hero.

Drew Hall hit a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left to help lift the Hoyas to a 79-74 victory over North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.

Georgetown (18-14) will meet the winner of Wednesday's Temple-Minnesota game on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

After a 10-2 run by North Carolina (19-16) evened the score at 70-70, Hall found himself wide open on the right side. Mike Sweetney wisely passed out of a double-team on the low post to set up Hall's shot.

Sweetney and Gerald Riley each scored 22 points to lead Georgetown. Riley scored 19 points in the second half.

The Tar Heels won the Preseason NIT, and Rashad McCants almost got them back to New York. McCants led North Carolina with 26 points, including eight during the tying run.

But when McCants had a chance to give North Carolina the lead with 2:03 left, he failed to convert a three-point play opportunity. The Tar Heels never led after a 10-0 run by the Hoyas gave them a 62-52 lead with 8:25 remaining.

Georgetown is in the NIT semifinals for the first time since 1993, when the Hoyas lost to the Golden Gophers in the championship game.

The Hoyas advanced to the semifinals by winning three straight road games. Georgetown also defeated Tennessee and Providence earlier in the tournament.