This could have been a season-saving victory for the UNC Tar Heels, who defeated Virginia 93-81 at home Saturday after losing at Miami and Duke over the past week. Virginia played well. It’s not often that you’ll beat a team by 12 when that team shoots nearly 60 percent.

Carolina scored 53 points in the second half, which is a point more than the Heels scored the entire game when they played at Virginia in early January.

Even though P.J. Hairston was the scoring star of the game with a career-high 29 points, this was a team effort.

Marcus Paige kept the Tar Heels in the game in the first half, after they got down by 10 points, with some key baskets and some key assists and he finished with 17 points.

Reggie Bullock, who has been fighting a cold and back and knee pain, had 11 points, four assists and four steals.

James Michael McAdoo, who was doubled teamed most of the way, hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds.

And Dexter Strickland, who was able to get down court quickly on fast breaks, scored 12 points, had six assists and only turned the ball over once.

That all being said, only two other players – Brice Johnson, who had six points, and Leslie McDonald, who has seven – played more than eight minutes.

Since going to the shorter lineup, minutes have greatly diminished for Johnson, Desmond Hubert, Jackson Simmons and Joel James (who has been out with a concussion).

Carolina improves to 17-8 and 7-5 in the ACC while Virginia falls to 18-7 and 8-4 in the ACC. It’s important to note that the Cavs have yet to play league leaders Miami and Duke.

For more on the game, please click here.