COLLEGE BASKETBALL : Tar Heels Hold Off Houston
Fifth-ranked North Carolina shot 61.8% but committed 25 turnovers in an 84-76 victory over Houston at Chapel Hill, N.C., on Sunday.
“We’re very happy with the win,” North Carolina Coach Dean Smith said. “However, we made it difficult on ourselves by having (a 23-point) lead and not taking care of the basketball.”
Donald Williams, who sat out North Carolina’s previous game because of bruised ribs suffered a week ago against Texas, returned and scored 21 points. Wearing a flak jacket, he came into the lineup late in the first half and scored 10 points in the closing six minutes.
Williams added two three-pointers during a 26-7 run that helped the Tar Heels (5-0) take a 66-43 lead with 11:51 to play. That is when North Carolina’s started making mistakes.
A 13-0 run drew the Cougars (2-1) within 70-62 after a three-pointer by Tyrone Evans with 6:04 to play. But Houston didn’t get any closer.
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