Tar Heels Use Fast Finish to Beat Wolfpack

One team scored the first 11 points, the other had the last 13. In between, No. 25 North Carolina did just enough Saturday to continue its recent domination of North Carolina State.

Bobby Frasor made sure of it.

The freshman point guard scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and had a clutch steal in the last two minutes as the Tar Heels held off the 13th-ranked Wolfpack, 82-69.

“I was really casual and not aggressive with the basketball,” Frasor said of his struggles before halftime. “I wouldn’t say I was in the zone [in the second half], but definitely shots were falling, which makes things a lot easier.”

Tyler Hansbrough converted all 14 free throws on his way to 20 points and David Noel had 14 for North Carolina which won its fifth in a row in the rivalry and is 9-2 overall, 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

This was the first time since Jan. 20, 1990, that North Carolina State came in with a higher ranking, but it hardly mattered to the Tar Heels.

They scored the final 13 points during the last 2 1/2 minutes to break free from a tie score and made the final margin deceptively large. Although Frasor had none of those points, he had perhaps the biggest play, jumping in the passing lane for his steal with North Carolina clinging to a 73-69 lead.

The turnover led to two free throws from Hansbrough, and the Wolfpack (12-2, 1-1) never recovered. Noel capped the stunning conclusion with his second breakaway dunk to punctuate the Tar Heels’ 21st victory in their last 29 games against the Wolfpack, which had its best start in 17 years stopped.