Tar Heels Win by 22 in ‘Ugly’ Effort

North Carolina shot only 41% from the field, had 19 turnovers and failed to reach 100 points for the first time in four games. Coach Roy Williams described the effort as “ugly,” and most of his players agreed.

Imagine how Georgia Tech felt.

Jawad Williams led a balanced attack with 18 points, and the third-ranked Tar Heels rolled to another impressive victory, 91-69, over No. 8 Georgia Tech in an Atlantic Coast Conference game on Wednesday at Atlanta.

North Carolina, which improved to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, won its 14th in a row since an opening loss to Santa Clara. Jarrett Jack had 24 points for Georgia Tech (11-3, 2-1).

“They’re an outstanding team, maybe the best team in the country,” Yellow Jacket Coach Paul Hewitt said.

No. 1 Illinois 90, Penn State 64 -- Luther Head and Dee Brown each made five three-point baskets in a Big Ten game at Champaign, Ill., to lead the Illini (17-0, 3-0) to a school-record tying 17th victory in a row. Head had 19 points, and Brown 15. Geary Claxton had 16 points for Penn State (6-10, 0-3).

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No. 2 Kansas 71, Iowa State 66 -- Keith Langford had 18 points, and Wayne Simien (thumb injury) returned from a four-game absence to score 13 points for the Jayhawks (12-0, 2-0) in a Big 12 win over the Cyclones (8-5, 0-2) at Ames, Iowa.

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No. 9 Kentucky 69, Vanderbilt 54 -- Freshman Rajon Rondo had 18 points to help the Wildcats (11-2, 2-0) move to 28-0 against the Commodores (11-5, 2-1) at Rupp Arena in a Southeastern Conference game.

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Texas A&M; 74, No. 10 Texas 63 -- Acie Law had 24 points at College Station, Texas, to help the Aggies (12-1, 1-1) end an 18-game Big 12 losing streak. P.J. Tucker had 18 points for Texas (12-3, 1-1).

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Tennessee 64, No. 11 Mississippi State 63 -- Scooter McFadgon scored 14 points at Knoxville, Tenn., to help the Volunteers (9-6, 2-1) end the nation’s longest road winning streak at 16. Lawrence Roberts had 22 points for the Bulldogs (14-3, 2-1) in the SEC game.

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No. 18 Cincinnati 84, East Carolina 78 -- Jason Maxiell had 24 points as the Bearcats (14-1, 3-0) beat the Pirates (5-10, 0-3) in a Conference USA game at Greenville, N.C.

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No. 21 George Washington 85, St. Bonaventure 59 -- Pops Mensah-Bonsu scored 14 points, helping the Colonials (11-2, 3-0) stop the Bonnies (1-13, 0-3) in an Atlantic 10 game at Olean, N.Y.