With North Carolina playing a taller Maryland team and with Tar Heel James Michael McAdoo in foul trouble, it took big games by both Reggie Bullock and PJ Hairston to give UNC a 79-68 win at Maryland.<\/p>\n
Bullock scored 19 points and hauled in 12 rebounds while Hairston, who left the game for several minutes after slipping awkwardly, scored 22 points and got eight rebounds.<\/p>\n
“We have a height disadvantage,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “Rebounding is always a concern of ours with a short lineup.”<\/p>\n
Williams added that it was impressive that his team got 20 rebounds from its wing players – Bullock and Hairston.<\/p>\n
The Tar Heels have been on a run since Williams put Hairston into the starting lineup and diminished playing time for taller players. Carolina has now won six in a row and gone from an NCAA bubble team to a lock with a chance to make some noise in the ACC and NCAA tournaments.<\/p>\n
The victory guarantees that the Tar Heels will get a first-day bye in the ACC Tournament. Since the tourney format change, no team without a bye has won the tournament.<\/p>\n
Williams said the team has come a long way as they have bought into playing with a sense of urgency and playing unselfishly.<\/p>\n
The Tar Heels got out to a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes but the Terrapins came back to take a three-point lead at 27-24 with 3:22 left in the half.<\/p>\n
The game then turned quickly and Carolina took control with a 10-0 to finish out the first half. Leslie McDonald hit a jumper to start the run and Hairston hit a three from the left corner to give UNC the lead for good. <\/p>\n