Haywood’s Tar Heel Imprint a Large One

Michael Jordan never did it at North Carolina. Neither did James Worthy, Jerry Stackhouse, Antawn Jamison or Vince Carter.

Brendan Haywood etched his name in North Carolina history by becoming the first player at the school to record a triple-double as the 14th-ranked Tar Heels defeated Miami, 67-45, Monday night at Chapel Hill, N.C.

“It’s definitely good for bragging rights, but it’s more important this team got the victory,” Haywood said of his performance that included 18 points, 14 rebounds and a school-record 10 blocks.

Haywood became the 13th player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to hit double digits in three categories since the league was founded in 1953-54. No North Carolina player had done it in the school’s 2,384 games.

The Tar Heels (4-2) rebounded after consecutive double-digit losses against Michigan State and Kentucky by holding Miami without a point for a span of 7:57 of the first half and 7:45 in the second.

North Carolina held Miami (3-2) to 23.4% shooting, the lowest by an opponent since Chattanooga shot 21.7% on Dec. 5, 1997, in Charlotte.

No. 7 Seton Hall 97, Norfolk State 87--Freshman Eddie Griffin had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in what is believed to be the first triple-double in Seton Hall history before leaving with a leg injury in the Pirates’ victory over the Spartans at South Orange, N.J.

The injury, which occurred when Griffin attempted to score on an alley-oop pass from Ty Shine with 1:04 remaining, was preliminarily diagnosed as a sprained right knee. Griffin is scheduled to undergo a precautionary MRI today..

“I’m really concerned,” Seton Hall Coach Tommy Amaker said. “Because you’re talking about a great kid who had done everything we’ve asked of him and played so well.”

Darius Lane added 16 points for Seton Hall, which last opened a season 5-0 in 1989. Cornelius Roberts had 22 for Norfolk State (1-3).

No. 16 Virginia 89, Virginia Military Institute 70--Roger Mason scored 23 points and Adam Hall added 19 to lead the Cavaliers (5-0) over the Keydets (1-4) at Lexington, Va.

Chris Williams also scored 16 for Virginia, which is off to its best start since winning its first 11 games during the 1992-93 season.

Eric Mann had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the VMI.

No. 23 Alabama 107, Grambling State 61--Freshman Gerald Wallace had 27 points and nine rebounds as the Crimson Tide cruised at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alabama (4-0) has scored 100 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time since the 1957-58 season.

Paul Haynes scored 23 points in Grambling State’s season opener as the Tigers lost their 26th consecutive game.