While rusty at times, especially shooting, Tyler Hansbrough returned from a shin injury and played typically hard in an 84-67 victory at UC Santa Barbara. The Heels are on their way to the Maui Classic which starts Monday. (11/21)

Hansbrough scored 13 points, most from the free throw line, and hauled in seven rebounds. The Tar Heels, now 3-0, got 19 points from Ty Lawson including seven straight during a stretch in the first half where Carolina rallied from five points down to take 29-27 lead they never relinquished.

UNC, which led by as many as 11 in the first half, was up 45-37 at the break. The gritty Gauchos, playing in front of their first sellout crowd in 10 years, cut it to five several times early in the second half. But a 7-0 run, capped by a three pointer from Wayne Ellington, put the Heels up 60-48 with less than 15 minutes to go.

Still, UCSB has several chances to cut the lead back down to five but could not. Ellington got the lead back up to double figures at 63-53 with a three from the top of the key and the Heels never looked back, opening up as much as a 20-point lead in the last minute.

The Heels had a rebounding advantage, especially on the offensive boards, and their depth, pressure defense and transition baskets finally took their toll.

Ellington finished with 17 points while Deon Thompson chipped in 12. Danny Green scored 11 and Ed Davis tallied 10.