By Joedy McCreary
Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL ó None of North Carolinaís starters hit double figures in their last game. This time, they all did it.
John Henson and Dexter Strickland each scored 13 points and the Tar Heels had eight players finish with at least 10 in a 103-54 rout of St. Francis (Pa.) on Sunday.
Leslie McDonald and Reggie Bullock added 12 points apiece to help the Tar Heels (10-4) win their third straight. They wrapped up the nonconference schedule by hitting the 100-point mark for the second time this season.
Tyler Zeller had 11 points while Henson also had six of North Carolinaís season-high-tying 10 blocked shots. The Tar Heels shot 59 percent (39 of 66), and had their most double-figure scorers since Brad Daugherty and Jeff Lebo were among the nine who did it against Manhattan on Dec. 27, 1985.
ěYou have to love eight guys in double figures,î North Carolina and Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams said. ěStrong teams can make substitutions and have people help you, and I think thatís what our guys did tonight.î
Harrison Barnes, Larry Drew II and Justin Knox each added 10 points for North Carolina, which didnít have any starters crack double-digit scoring in a 78-55 romp against Rutgers on Dec. 28 at Madison Square Garden. The starting five combined for 57 points, and there also wasnít much of a dropoff when Williams went to his reserves.
ěThe team thatís coming off the bench, weíre basically just coming out and bringing energy, adding on to the things that arenít going on,î Bullock said. ěJust showing the first squad itís basically easy to just move the ball and get scores.î
The Tar Heels have won 8 of 10 since dropping two straight to Minnesota and Vanderbilt at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, and they had little trouble in their final nonconference tuneup before beginning Atlantic Coast Conference play Jan. 8 at Virginia.
ěI donít know if any coach would ever say theyíre really ready,î Williams said.