Detroit, MI -- (Sports Network) - The rematch thus far has looked similar to the first game this season between North Carolina and Michigan State, and the record halftime lead has the Tar Heels primed for another national title.

The Tar Heels have raced to a 55-34 advantage in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament, negating any supposed home-crowd advantage the Spartans had in the contest playing only 91 miles from their campus in East Lansing.

The point total is the most-ever in the first half for a title game, surpassing the 53 Syracuse had vs. Kansas in 2003. It's also the largest halftime lead in championship game annals.

Wayne Ellington has 17 points and Tyler Hansbrough 11 for the Tar Heels at the break.

It was back on December 3 when top-ranked North Carolina blew out the then-No. 13 Spartans, 98-63, as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Ford Field, the setting for tonight's game. The Tar Heels limited the Spartans to 7-of-35 shooting in the second half in that game, as Hansbrough led the way with a 25- point, 11-rebound effort.

UNC had 53 points at the half in that contest, leading by 14, and already the Tar Heels have surpassed that mark and look to be on their way to a fifth NCAA Tournament title, which would tie Indiana for third-most, trailing only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (7).

The Tar Heels, who beat Villanova Saturday, have won by at least 12 points in every game of this tournament.

UNC is 4-0 all-time against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament, and even though there's plenty of green in attendance, Tar Heel blue has swarmed the Spartans, as UNC is 20 minutes away from its second title in five years. The Tar Heels beat Michigan State in last year's NCAA tourney and in 2005 topped the Spartans in the Final Four, on the way to the championship.

The Spartans, who beat Connecticut on Saturday in the Final Four, need a massive rally if they're to win the school's third championship, joining the 1979 and 2000 teams.

Michigan State center Goran Suton didn't play in that December game because of a knee injury, but so far his presence hasn't helped stop UNC's powerful front line. He has nine points and Kalin Lucas eight thus far.

North Carolina took advantage of the lightning pace, hitting six of its first seven shots from the field, all while racing to a 17-7 lead. Hansbrough capped the burst with a jumper.

Ed Davis then made a layup, and Ty Lawson came up with an immediate steal. Even though Bobby Frasor missed the quick three-ball, Ellington was right under the basket for a layup.

UNC continued to dominate, with Hansbrough hitting an inside shot with nearly 10 1/2 minutes left in the half for a 31-11 cushion. Davis' layup made it 36-13.

Each time the Spartans tried to cut their deficit, the Tar Heels had an answer.