By Charles Odum
Associated Press
ATLANTA ó Iman Shumpert, Glen Rice and Georgia Tech finally played a complete game ó just in time for North Carolinaís worst shooting performance in 56 years.
Shumpert matched his career high with 30 points and Georgia Tech held North Carolina to its fewest points in the Roy Williams era to beat the Tar Heels 78-58 on Sunday night.
North Carolina made only 27.6 percent of its shots from the field (16 of 58), its worst shooting since making 25.7 percent of its shots against North Carolina State in 1955. Many of North Carolinaís missed shots were layups, leaving Williams exasperated.
ěWe stunk,î Williams said. ěThe coaching stunk and we stunk.î
Exactly one year after setting his career scoring high with 30 points in a win over North Carolina, Shumpert enjoyed another memorable game against the Tar Heels. He blocked two shots and had three steals.
Rice also matched his career high with 24 points as Georgia Tech (8-8 overall, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) ended its three-game losing streak.
ěWeíve just been trying to stay together,î Shumpert said. ěWhen things go bad, the worst thing you can do is start pointing fingers.î
Shumpert, who was recruited heavily by Williams out of Oak Park, Ill., made 13 of 23 shots.
ěIman is playing great,î Williams said. ěI recruited the dickens out of him. That is two games that he has scored 30 on us. I think he sees us and then his eyes light up.î
Shumpert said he chose Georgia Tech because ěIím a city guy, pretty much.î
Shumpert said he could not explain his success against North Carolina, but he said he might have been motivated by the crowd. About one-third of the 8,125 fans at Alexander Memorial Coliseum wore North Carolina blue.
The Yellow Jackets have won four straight over North Carolina. Georgia Tech took three wins in the series last season, including one in the ACC tournament.
Coach Paul Hewitt said Georgia Tech played its best game as Shumpert, a junior, and Rice, a sophomore, continue to adjust to their new roles as scoring leaders.
ěItís getting used to being the guy,î Hewitt said.
North Carolinaís five-game winning streak ended as the Tar Heels (12-5, 2-1) committed 18 turnovers, leading to 25 points for Georgia Tech.
Williams also was not impressed after the Tar Heels won their first two ACC games against Virginia and Virginia Tech by a combined margin of nine points.
ěItís the third straight game where we just went through the motions,î Williams said.
North Carolinaís previous scoring low in Williamsí eight seasons as coach was 60 points in a postseason NIT win over Alabama-Birmingham last season.
The Tar Heels reached a new low against Georgia Tech.
ěWe didnít execute,î Williams said. ěWe missed layups. I donít think Iíve ever had a game where we missed so many layups. … One of our problems was just passing and catching, very elementary things.î
Harrison Barnes and John Henson each had 11 points for North Carolina, which never led.
Shumpert and Rice, who had four 3-pointers, were Georgia Techís only scorers in double figures.
Williams inserted five subs less than 3 minutes into the game.