Associated Press
RENO, Nev. ó Tyler Hansbrough scored 22 points to lead top-ranked North Carolina to a 84-61 victory over Nevada on Wednesday night and keep the Tar Heels undefeated with a school-record 13th straight win by double figures.
Wayne Ellington added 15 points and Ty Lawson had 11 points and seven assists for North Carolina (13-0), which trailed early but put together a 10-1 run midway through the first half capped by Hansbrough’s 3-pointer to take control of the game.
Freshman Luke Babbitt had 22 pointsfor Nevada (7-6), which trailed 41-27 at the half and shot only 35 percent from the field.
Hansbrough made 7-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 fee throws. It marked the seventh straight 20-point game for North Carolina’s career scoring leader, who also had three rebounds to move past Brad Daugherty into a tie with Mitch Kupchak for fifth on the school career rebounding list.
Nevada opened a 14-12 lead while holding Hansbrough scoreless for the first 8 minutes of the game, but he made a pair of free throws to spark the 10-1 run that put the Tar Heels up 22-15 8:47 before the half. He followed a 14-foot jumper with a slam dunk and two free throws and Ellington nailed a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.
The Tar Heels took their first 20-point lead when Ed Davis made two free throws after Nevada coach Mark Fox was whistled for a technical foul to make it 54-34 with 14:19 left in the game. They went up 71-48 when Hansbrough scored seven straight ó thje last on a basket inside with 6:20 remaining.
No opponent has come closer than 15 points against these Tar Heels, who entered Wednesday night’s game averaging 95.8 points per game and winning by an average margin of 26.8.