North Carolina's big men Deon Thompson, Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller combined for 53 points to more than offset the 32 points, including nine three-pointers, by Gardner-Webb's Grayson Flittner. The Tar Heels rebounded from their first loss of the season to defeat the Bulldogs handily 93-72 at home. (11/23)

Despite outrebounding Gardner-Webb 50-28 and shooting 20 percentage points higher from the field, the Tar Heels could not completely blow out the Bulldogs due to 15 three-point baskets scored by the visitors. Conversely, Carolina sank only one three-pointer and that came in the last minute of the game by seldom-used reserve walk-on Thomas Thornton which made it 93-72.

Carolina never trailed and opened up the game early with a 16-2 run capped off by a Marcus Ginyard steal and pass to Davis for a dunk to make it 35-17.

The Tar Heels, who stole the ball eight times in the first half, led 53-38 at the break despite missing all three of their three-point tries.

Within the first two minutes of the second half Carolina worked the lead up to 21 points, which would prove to be the largest margin of the game and the final margin of the game, when Davis rebounded a miss and dunked it through to make it 59-38.

Free throw shooting was worrisome for the Heels as they hit only 18 of 33. But it was obvious from the get-go that Carolina just had too much talent, especially inside, and that Gardner-Webb just wasn't going to be able to hit enough three pointers to beat Carolina.

Coach Roy Williams said his Tar Heels were a little tight in the first few minutes of the game, possibly still reeling from the Syracuse lose, but that they put up a good effort and "did some good things."

Thompson led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Tar Heels host Nevada Sunday at 6:45 p.m. in a game televised on Fox Net.

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