North Carolina squandered a big halftime lead but got back on track behind freshman Anthony Harris to handle UCLA 74-64, breaking a four-game losing streak. (12\/21) <\/p>\n
Up 36-23 at the half, Carolina went more than five minutes without a basket to start the second half. Meanwhile, UCLA ran off 12 straight points to narrow the lead to 36-35. <\/p>\n
Harris hit a pair of free throws and fellow freshman Armando Bacot followed that up with a steal and layup to put the Heels up 40-35.<\/p>\n
It stayed close until Harris came up with a steal and layup and then hit back-to-back threes to put Carolina in control at 57-45 with 5:55 remaining.<\/p>\n
The largest lead of the game came with 3:26 left after Harris, on the fastbreak, followed his own miss to make it 65-49. <\/p>\n
“Anthony was the biggest story of the game for us,” UNC coach Roy Williams said adding that he and fellow freshman Jeremiah Francis have only practiced for two weeks as they are coming back from knee injuries. <\/p>\n
Francis kept the Bruins from coming back as he sank nine of 10 free throws, most of which came late.<\/p>\n
Bacot led five Tar Heels in double figures with 15 while Harris tallied a career-high 14 and Francis finished with 12. Seniors Garrison Brooks and Brandon Robinson scored 12 each.<\/p>\n
Robinson pointed to Harris’ play in the second half as key. “He stepped up for us big time,” said Robinson, who hit three threes in the first half. “He made shots, played tough defense and just made plays.” <\/p>\n
Brooks said UCLA surprised the Heels with that strong run at the start of the second half. “We finally settled down, got organized and started to do what we do every day at practice,” he said. “It worked out for us.”<\/p>\n
Brooks, who took the loss to Wofford hard, said, “this is very exciting for us. We got back on track.” <\/p>\n
The Tar Heels, now 7-5 overall, will play at home against Yale Dec. 30. <\/p>\n