Heels 116, Bulldogs 48
Lawson controls tempo, Green drops in six threes
North Carolina trailed 6-2 to a team it beat by just 12 last season but Ty Lawson kicked it into another gear to lead the Tar Heels to an impressive 116-48 victory over UNC-Asheville. (11/30)

The Tar Heels went on a 24-6 run, spearheaded by Lawson, to take a 26-12 advantage midway through the first half. During the stretch, Lawson sank a three pointer, converted an old-fashioned three-point play and led several fast break buckets.

The Heels went on a 16-0 to end the half and take a commanding 53-19 halftime lead. During that run, UNC players hit nine shots in a row while the Bulldogs missed eight straight. Lawson had 14 points at the break while Will Graves, off the bench, tallied nine.

Ten steals by the Heels was a big difference in the half. Danny Green, who went scoreless in the first half, scored six straight three pointers in the first five minutes of the second half. The lead reached 50 on Green's final three.

Coach Roy Williams began taking out starters after the first 10 minutes of the second half. Still, the reserves stretched the lead to 71 in the last minute as little-used J.B. Tanner drained a three to make it 114-43.

The Tar Heels forced 25 turnovers and scored 31 points off turnovers. They also scored 41 transition points compared to zero for UNC-A. Carolina shot 57 percent from the field while the Bulldogs managed only 27 percent.

"We made a bunch of shots and they missed a bunch of shots they'd normally make," Coach Williams said.

Lawson led the way with 22 points in just 21 minutes of play. "Ty was really dominating for us - setting the tone for the whole game," Williams said.

Four other Tar Heels scored in double figures - Green had 18, Thompson 17, Ed Davis 13 and Wayne Ellington 13. Tyler Hansbrough, still nursing injuries, did not play. He is expected back when the Tar Heels play Michigan State on Dec. 3. After that, Carolina takes a break for exams and doesn't play again until Dec. 13 against Oral Roberts.

Carolina is now 7-0 while UNC-Asheville, playing without 7-foot-7 Kenny George who has been lost to injury, falls to 3-3.