North Carolina bounced back from its first lost and bounced back from an 11-point deficit to defeat No. 17 UCLA going away, 94-78, in the Las Vegas Invitational. (11\/23)<\/p>\n
The Tar Heels had lost to unranked Texas on Thanksgiving and midway through the first half of their game Friday, it looked as if the losing might continue.<\/p>\n
Carolina trailed 32-21 but cut the margin to five at the half, 46-41, after a Nassir Little dunk and Cam Johnson three from the top of the key.<\/p>\n
Johnson kept the momentum going in the second half by scoring seven in a row, the last two coming after a steal and layup that tied the score at 48-all.<\/p>\n
A Luke Maye rebound and follow shot gave the Heels their first lead at 52-51 but the lead went back and forth until Little started an 11-0 run that put Carolina in control midway through the second half.<\/p>\n
Little drove the lane and slammed down a contested dunk to put the Heels up for good at 63-62. By the time the run ended, UNC led 71-62. A back breaker for the Bruins came when Maye missed the second of two free throws, Johnson punched the rebound out and freshman Coby White drained a three from the left sideline.<\/p>\n
It never got closer than seven the rest of the way with the final 16-point margin being the Tar Heels’ largest lead of the game.<\/p>\n
Five Carolina players, led by White’s 19, scored in double figures. Maye contributed 16, Kenny Williams added 15 while Johnson and Little got 14 each.<\/p>\n
UNC coach Roy Williams said his team’s defensive intensity was much better against UCLA. “It was a big game for us,” he said. “We’ve got three teams coming up in the next five games that could be in the top five or six in the country.”<\/p>\n
Between now and Dec. 22, the Heels play powerhouses Michigan, Gonzaga and Kentucky. “It wouldn’t have been nice to lose both games – to come out of here without a win,” he said of the Las Vegas Invitational.<\/p>\n
UCLA falls to 4-2 while North Carolina, which travels to Michigan next Wednesday, improves to 6-1.<\/p>\n