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Off the cuff: I like low-scoring games, I promise. But I found myself surfing the Internet during that first half. BC certainly controlled the tempo and made for a ho-hum game for much of the time.

"We could have played a nice offense like we usually do and we would have lost by a lot," said Boston College coach Steve Donahue.

Carolina looked really good offensively for five minutes in the second half but that was it. During that stretch, UNC outscored BC 15-3 and appeared to have the game in hand. A long pass from Kendall Marshall to a streaking Tyler Zeller started the run which included a Barnes three and a pair of spinning, driving layups by Marshall and Barnes.

But then the Heels lost the ball on five straight possessions and BC, unlike the Heels, were able to hit some threes which got them back in it.

The Tar Heels did hold BC to just 27 percent shooting and outrebounded the Eagles 44-30.

Carolina's defense is carrying the Heels right now but it's just a matter of time before they lose one they oughta win unless they get their offensive woes figured out.

Tar Heels 48, Boston College 46
Heels hang on as paint finally dries

In the lowest scoring game in Smith Center history, North Carolina and Boston College turned a game that resembled watching paint dry into a thrilling finish as the Heels hung on for a 48-46 victory. (2/19)

Tar Heels didn't exactly run out to a 7-0 lead but they did lead 7-0 after a full seven minutes. With five minutes left in the half, Boston College caught up, getting their only lead of the game with a Trapani three to make it 15-14 BC. Within seconds UNC's Tyler Zeller scored inside and BC never led again though the halftime lead was only 21-20.

Carolina got the lead up to double figures at 33-23 following a Harrison Barnes three from the top of the key and a spinning layup by Kendall Marshall. By the 10-minute mark, the Heels had worked the lead up to 15 at 41-26 after another driving layup by Marshall.

Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, they turned the ball over on five straight possessions and the Eagles went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to just four at 45-41 with 2:51 to go.

BC cut it to two on a Reggie Jackson three and following a Carolina possession where a Marshall shot rimmed out, the Eagles had a chance to tie or win.

The Eagles called a timeout with 17 seconds left and worked a play to Jackson who slung up a long three from the top of the key over the outstretched arms of Carolina big man John Henson. The ball went front rim, back rim and out.

Boston College, led by Joe Trapani and Jackson with 13 points each, played a zone and got back quickly on defense, trying to hold the score down from the last time the two teams played and it worked. BC controlled the tempo for much of the game this time whereas Carolina won 106-74 at Boston College less than three weeks ago.

UNC coach Roy Williams said he was happy with his team's defense, holding BC to just 27 percent from the field, and their rebounding, holding a 14-board edge. But the Tar Heels are still struggling offensively - shooting just 37 percent and hitting only two of 11 threes. Carolina also shot only eight free throws and sank only four of them.

"We had five or six possession there in the second half where we were really good," Williams said. "Then we went wacko for a few minutes... It would have been fine if we hadn't turned it over five times in a row."

Zeller led Carolina with 16 points while Barnes and Marshall added 10 each. The Tar Heels, now 20-6 and 9-2 in the ACC, plays at N.C. State Wednesday night.

Boxscore

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