North Carolina got some offense from an unexpected source and pulled away from a pesky Wofford team in the second half as the Tar Heels won their opener 78-67 in Spartanburg, SC. (11/5)

Garrison Brooks, UNC's big man who averaged less than five points a game last season as a reserve, started and scored a career-high 20 points. But it took the three ball to salt away the victory.

Wofford, who upset the Tar Heels last season in Chapel Hill, came from 10 down over just three minutes to tie it at 46-all with just over 10 minutes to play.

UNC's Cameron Johnson banged in three triples over the next three minutes to give Carolina a 60-51 lead with 7:34 left, prompting a timeout by Wofford.

Wofford did manage to cut the lead to five before Carolina went on a 14-2 run, highlighted by the play of freshman Coby White, who had a iffy start to the game. White sank a three-point bucket, completed an old-fashioned three-point play and had a nifty assist during the run.

Carolina's largest lead was 17 before the Tar Heels settled for an 11-point victory.

UNC coach Roy Williams said it was a "wonderful environment" but his mind went to last year when Wofford "spanked us in our own building."

Brooks, then a freshman, remembered it. He said the Tar Heels were able to pull away because of their "conditioning and preparation."

He credited his teammates with getting him the ball in good spots to score inside.

Luke Maye, the ACC's preseason player of the year, led the Tar Heels with solid play inside and out with 24 points and seven rebounds. But it was five three-pointers by Johnson, who scored 17, that came at key moments during the game.

The Tar Heels were nine of 23 from beyond the arc while the Terriers, who rely on the three, were nine of 35 from three-point distance.

Coach Williams credited Kenny Williams' defense on Fletcher Magee as one of the keys to the game as the Wofford three-point specialist was just three for 16 in three-point attempts.

The Tar Heels trailed 10-9 early but after a 7-0 run that included freshman Nassir Little's first basket, a pull-up jumer, Carolina never trailed again.

Carolina led by as many as 12 points in the first half and had a 33-26 advantage at the half. The Heels increased that margin to 13 early in the second half before Wofford got back in it with four straight threes.

The Tar Heels, 1-0, travel to Elon Friday night.

Box score

UNC's Luke Maye goes in for a dunk on a fastbreak. (UNC Sports Information)