Marcus Paige scored a career-high 23 points to keep North Carolina from getting embarrassed at home against Holy Cross, a team not expected to contend in its conference. With Leslie McDonald and PJ Hairston still in NCAA limbo on the Tar Heel bench, one has to wonder if the Heels will contend in the ACC following a lackluster 62-54 win. (11/15)

After the season-opening half being close to perfect last week, fans at the Smith Center probably weren’t expecting a first half where the Tar Heels shot just 27 percent and were outrebounded by a smaller squad. But heading into the second half, Holy Cross was tied with No. 12 ranked Heels at 25-all.

Holy Cross took a three-point lead, its largest lead of the game at 32-29, early in the second half. Carolina got the lead back after a Paige steal and layup combined with a Kennedy Meeks follow shot inside before Holy Cross tied it at 35.

That’s when the Tar Heels took control of the game with a 12-0 run. Brice Johnson provided a spark off the bench as he hit a turn-around jumper and scored on a layup following a Luke Davis steal to start the run.

JP Tokoto hit a jumper and Paige drove around the basket for a layin to put the Heels up 43-35.

Johnson backed in for a short shot and Paiger hit a jumper from the right side to end the run to put Carolina up 47-35.

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