Down by 11 in the second half, after scoring one bucket in 12 minutes, North Carolina managed to grind out a come-from-behind 62-56 victory at Virginia. (1/8)

The Tar Heels slowly rallied despite hitting just 27 percent of their shots in the second half. "That was one of the ugliest wins I've ever been involved in," UNC coach Roy Williams said adding that he felt like the kid who had stolen every cookie out of the cookie jar and just wanted to get out of town.

He also said, though, that he was very proud of his team's toughness. "Last year's team didn't show that toughness when they got down."

Down by seven at the half at 37-30, the Heels' deficit stretched to 11 at 43-32 at the start of the second half when Carolina missed its first eight shots of the half.

Midway through the second half, Virginia, despite going cold themselves, managed to hold the same margin as it had at halftime with a 47-40 advantage.

Carolina toughened up on defense and chipped away offensively. John Henson hit a big baseline jumper from the left side with 6:20 to go to cut the lead to 50-46. After four straight free throws by Tyler Zeller tied the score at 50, Henson drove the lane for a layup at the end of the shot clock to give Carolina a 52-50 edge with 3:12 to go. It would be the last basket the Heels scored.

UVA tied it on free throws but it was Carolina's free throws over the last 2:27 that won the game. The Heels hit 10 of 12 free throws to hold off the Cavs. Dexter Strickland was five of six during the stretch including four straight in the last 10 seconds after Virginia had cut the lead to two.

A couple of defensive plays - a block by Harrison Barnes and tough defense by Zeller on a drive to the basket - in the last minute helped the Heels survive.

Carolina came out hot and it looked as if the Heels would run away with it after Reggie Bullock drained a three from the corner to give them a 22-13 edge. But turnovers and cold shooting let Virginia, who hit four threes the rest of the half, back in it. The Cavs outscored the Heels 24-8 in the last 10 minutes of the half to take command.

Williams said it was a matter of turning the ball over and not covering anybody. But the Heels righted that ship in the second half. In fact, UNC did not turn the ball over once in the last 13 minutes and finished with its fewer turnovers of the season at eight whie holding the Cavs to 26 percent shooting.

KT Harrell led Virginia, now 10-6 and 1-1 in the league, with 13 points. Zeller was the lone Tar Heel in double figures with 12.

Carolina, now 11-4 and 1-0 in the ACC, host Virginia Tech Thursday at 9 p.m.

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