No. 1 Tar Heels Hold Off Georgia Tech

[January 17, 2008]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- North Carolina is still unbeaten. Barely. Tyler Hansbrough scored 27 points and made a crucial block in the closing seconds as the top-ranked Tar Heels held on for an 83-82 victory over stubborn Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

Danny Green put North Carolina (18-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) ahead by making one of two free throws with 22 seconds remaining.

Georgia Tech (7-9, 0-3) had a chance to pull off a monumental upset, but Zack Peacock's shot was blocked by Hansbrough. Peacock retrieved the loose ball and got off a jumper that rimmed out, allowing North Carolina to escape.

The Tar Heels are off to their best start since the 1985-86 team began the season with 21 straight wins. Another encouraging sign for North Carolina: This is its first 3-0 start in the conference since 2004-05, and that team went on to win the NCAA championship.

The Tar Heels have won all but four of their games by double-digit blowouts. They came into Atlanta averaging 92.2 points and winning by an average margin of 22.1.

With snow covering the ground outside after a rare winter storm for these parts, Georgia Tech almost pulled off an even bigger surprise. The Yellow Jackets put together an 11-2 run for their biggest lead of the game, 63-56.

Anthony Morrow hit a 3-pointer falling down and Peacock completed the spurt with a basket on the inside.

In the unaccustomed role of playing from behind, North Carolina responded. The Tar Heels worked hard for second chances and pulled even at 70 on Ty Lawson's three-point play with 8:52 remaining.

But the Yellow Jackets kept matching North Carolina shot for shot. D'Andre Bell hit a jumper to reclaim the lead for the home team. Lawson scored on a fast-break drive to make it 72-all. Georgia Tech took off the other way for Peacock's dunk.

It was close the rest of the way. Jeremis Smith hit two free throws with 1:13 remaining to make it 82-82, and Georgia Tech squandered a chance to go ahead when Morrow missed a jumper from the corner with the shot clock running down.

Green was fouled by Peacock on the rebound, and walked to the other end of the court to shoot two. Only one went in, but that was enough to give the Tar Heels another victory.

Smith led the Yellow Jackets with 15 points, Peacock had 14 and Morrow added 13. Freshman Gani Lawal also had 13 but fouled out with more than 5 minutes remaining.

Ty Lawson added 13 points for North Carolina, while Green had 10.

[Associated Press; By PAUL NEWBERRY]

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