No. 2 Texas looked more like a North Carolina team than the Tar Heels did as the Longhorns attacked the rim, out rebounded the Heels and got to the line more in a 103-90 victory in the first game at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium. (12/19)
"Second chance points and free throws were the difference," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "They were more assertive than we were."
Still, the game was competitive most of the way as the lead changed hands seven times in the first half and the Tar Heels cut a 17-point deficit to four with seven minutes to play.
But the Tar Heels dug a hole in over the last five minutes of the first half and could not recover. Carolina led 35-33 before the Longhorns went on a 21-6 run over the last 5:40. UNC trailed by only six with just over a minute to play but a three by Texas' Johnson and six points in the last 27 seconds left the Heels behind 54-41 at the half.
Texas worked the lead up to 17 but Carolina finally made a few stops and stop the ball well, shooting 59 percent in the second half. UNC senior Marcus Ginyard rallied the Heels. First he swished a three to cut the lead to 80-71 and capped the 10-2 run with a running jumper to cut the margin to four at 82-78 with seven minutes to go.
The Heels had a chance to cut it to one but an off-balanced, ill-advised three by Larry Drew II fell short and Texas went on a 9-2 run to push the margin back to double digits. Carolina never threatened again.
Carolina was outrebounded 60-41 and gave up 27 second-chance points inside. Texas went to the free throw line 34 times compared to only 19 for the Heels. Plus, Carolina only sank 11 of those 19 free throws.
UNC, which falls to 8-3, was led by Ed Davis' 21 points. Tyler Zeller came off the bench for 16 while Ginyard had 13 and Dexter Strickland finished with 12. Deon Thompson, perhaps bothered by tendinitis in his knee, scored only eight points and didn't play as many minutes as usual.
Texas, 10-0, had four players who scored more than 20 points. Damion James led the way with 25 points while 300-pound Dexter Pittman had 23.
Carolina plays at home against Marshall Tuesday night.
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