|
 Johnson finished 6-of-6 from the field and posted team highs of
11 rebounds and three blocks as North Carolina (17-4, 7-1 ACC)
pushed its winning streak to six games. Marcus Paige collected 22
points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Tar
Heels, who have shot better than 50 percent from the field in each
game during their hot streak, finishing at 55.4 percent in this one.
Trevor Cooney matched his season high with 28 points and Rakeem
Christmas collected 22 points and 12 rebounds for Syracuse (14-7,
5-3), which has dropped three of four following a seven-game winning
streak. The Orange, who set a season high for points allowed, stayed
competitive by forcing 20 turnovers, although they were unable to
overcome a 42-27 disadvantage on the glass.
 North Carolina, holding a 68-66 lead with less than six minutes
left, scored on five consecutive possessions - six of those points
coming from Johnson - to create some breathing room at 78-72 with
2:53 to go. Johnson added a putback shortly thereafter before Paige
went 4-of-4 from the line to push the cushion to 84-75 with 1:24 to
play.
Cooney scored 15 first-half points for the Orange, who led most of
the opening session before closing with an 8-3 run in the final two
minutes to snap a 32-32 tie. Johnson scored the first six Tar Heels
points of the second half, and Paige later drained a pair of
3-pointers to draw North Carolina even at 56.
[to top of second column] |
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kennedy Meeks and Nate Britt added 17 points apiece
for North Carolina, which had been 0-3 when trailing at the half.
The Tar Heels committed 13 turnovers - five by J.P. Tokoto - in the
first half. ... Paige, who finished 4-of-7 from behind the arc, has
made multiple 3-pointers in 11 straight games. ... Tar Heels coach
Roy Williams picked up his 741st career victory, tying former Temple
coach John Chaney for 16th all-time in Division I history.
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