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Check back prior to the 2008 season for a preview and a program outlook.

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Off the cuff: North Carolina fans have seen enough big early deficits the last two seasons to last a lifetime.

The Tar Heels once again got behind early but this time it was against a conference foe and one of their chief rivals.

N.C. State hit more three-point shots in the first six and a half minutes (3) than the Tar Heels did the entire game (2).

The Pack hit six of their eight made threes in the first half while buidling up a 17-point advantage.

Carolina hit two threes in the first half and none in the second half, especially when they really needed one.

UNC guards Caleb Love and R.J. Davis, both freshmen, missed seven of their eight three-point shot attempts including three or four that could have tied the game or given the Heels a lead.

The Heels led 2-0 and never led again. UNC coach Roy Williams didn't want to lay the loss at the feet of the two freshmen guards.

"If you start pointing your fingers at one or two players, it hurts your team," Coach Williams said. "But we have got to shoot the ball better and we have to have better shot selection."

Carolilna was just two of 12 from beyond the arc while N.C. State was eight of 17, which is an 18-point difference in a game lost by three.

N.C. State 79, Tar Heels 76
State strikes, UNC can't get over hump

N.C. State, behind freshman Shakeel Moore off the bench, struck early against North Carolina building up a big lead that the Tar Heels could never overcome as the Pack held off the Heels 79-76. (12/22)

Moore, who had his biggest offensive outburst of the season with 17 points, hit five of six shots in the first half for 13 of those points as the Wolfpack built a 17-point cushion.

"Their sense of urgency early in the game was better than ours," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "When we got close, we took two or three bad shots in a row."

Carolina went on a 13-3 run late in the first half to get back in the game, trailing by just seven, 49-42, at the half. During the stretch, Coach Williams found a player off the bench to provide some urgency - Walker Kessler.

"Kessler didn't take a shot and he got us back in the game," he said. Kessler's hustle on both ends of the court combined with Andrew Platek drawing two charges changed the tone of the game.

The Heels continued the run in the second half, drawing within two points just five minutes into the second half. Carolina had a couple of chances to tie or take the lead but failed.

With less than nine minutes to play, the Heels drew to within a single pint at 63-62 after a baseline driving basket by Platek, who also hit a free throw for the three-point play.

But N.C. State went on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes, fueled by 11 points from Devon Daniels, who led all scorers with 21 points.

The 77-64 lead seems insurmountable for the Heels but they battled back with suffocating defense as the Pack failed to score a basket in the last five minutes of the game.

But Carolina couldn't get over the hump, despite drawing to 78-76 with 10 seconds left and having a chance to tie it at the buzzer. Two good-look threes, including an open three from the top of the key from Caleb Love, fell harmless off the rim as State scored a rare win over the Tar Heels.

Coming into the game, Roy Williams coached Tar Heel teams were 15-2 in Raleigh against the Pack. But a hot Wolfpack team, combined with a poor shooting Tar Heel team ultimately was the difference.

State improves to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play while Carolina falls to 5-3 and 0-1 in league play.

The Tar Heels, who were led by Armando Bacot's 16 points, play at Georgia Tech on Dec. 30.

Box Score

UNC's Walker Kessler dives for loose ball. (UNC Sports photo by Maggie Hobson)

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