Dec 20, 2006, 2:40 GMT
Chapel Hill, NC - Tyler Hansbrough scored a game-high 20 points and frontcourt mate Brandan Wright contributed 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, as second-ranked North Carolina rolled to a 105-52 victory over Florida Atlantic.
The game had an interesting subplot, with Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams going against his former Kansas point guard Rex Walters, who led the Jayhawks to the 1993 Final Four.
The subplot turned out to be the only interesting storyline in the rout. Reyshawn Terry and Wayne Ellington had 14 points apiece and Ty Lawson donated 11 points and eight assists for the Tar Heels (9-1), who did most of their damage in a 65-point first half.
With a team that had topped 90 points in seven of nine games, Williams preached defense during a recent seven-day lull in game action for the Tar Heels.
The young squad has listened, holding UNC-Asheville to 62 points on Saturday before shutting down the Owls (4-6). Florida Atlantic, which played without leading scorer Paul Graham, scored just 18 points in the first half and never got close in the final 20 minutes.
DeAndre Rice had 13 points and Jeff Parmer contributed 11 points in defeat. Florida Atlantic shot just 36 percent, while the Tar Heels made an impressive 66 percent of their shots.
The gap in talent was apparent from the outset. After Brent Crews' three cut the FAU deficit to 10-5, North Carolina reeled off 24 straight points to open a wide margin.
It seemed like every Tar Heel contributed to the spurt, with the last 10 points attributed to Hansbrough (6) and Wright (4).
Terry's three-point play made the score 50-10 with 4:14 left in the half.
The half ended in similar fashion with Ellington heaving a 30-foot jumper off the hip and through the hoop for a 65-18 lead.
Williams cleared the bench for the better part of the second half.
Game Notes
Florida Atlantic committed 24 turnovers.This was the first meeting between the two schools.North Carolina outrebounded the Owls, 38-24.
Florida Atlantic committed 24 turnovers.
This was the first meeting between the two schools.
North Carolina outrebounded the Owls, 38-24.
© 2006 The Sports Network
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