Last Update on November 20, 2009 03:30 EST

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- He may be 32, but Ricky Williams is far from done. And even without Ronnie Brown, the once written-off Miami Dolphins are back in the playoff picture.

Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 on Thursday night for their fourth win in six games.

A day after learning Brown is lost for the season, the Dolphins continued their surge after an 0-3 start behind Williams. The 2002 NFL rushing champion had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game for the first time in his career that included a couple of lost seasons.

It was enough to beat the Panthers when Jake Delhomme's desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Deon Thompson had 15 points and 12 rebounds and No. 6 North Carolina managed to hold on for a 77-73 victory over No. 15 Ohio State in the 2K Sports Classic semifinals on Thursday night.

The Tar Heels , who led by 19 points with 10:23 to play, will face Syracuse, which beat No. 13 California 95-73, in Friday night's championship game of the tournament that benefits Coaches vs. Cancer.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams hadn't been overly pleased with the Tar Heels' play in their three double-digit victories, including ones over Florida International and North Carolina Central, to advance to New York.

He couldn't find much to be upset with early against Ohio State as the defending national champions -- only one starter returned from the team that beat Michigan State in April -- were in charge for most of the game.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- Chad Tomko scored 21 points and North Carolina-Wilmington made 10 of 16 3-point shots to knock off Penn State 80-69 on Thursday.

The Seahawks held the Nittany Lions to 32.3 percent from the field in the first round of the Charleston Classic.

Penn State got 29 points from Talor Battle, who made 11 of 12 free throws. The Nittany Lions were 22-for-27 from the foul line for the game.

The Seahawks led 40-31 at halftime after shooting 61.5 percent from the field, including 7-for-11 from 3-point range.

Six players had at least one 3-pointer for UNC-Wilmington and eight scored in the first half.

Penn State, meanwhile, struggled against the Seahawks' defense, shooting 35.5 percent from the field in the first half, including 2-for-10 from 3-point range.

Will Ohuaregbe was the only other UNC-Wilmington player in double figures with 12 points.