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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- After almost losing a big halftime lead
for the second consecutive game, North Carolina turned to Joseph
Forte. He responded -- again.
|  | | Joseph Forte looks for a passing lane, but it was his scoring ability that got North Carolina off the hook in the second half. |
Forte scored 33 points -- nine during a key stretch in the second
half -- and the Tar Heels (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) extended their winning streak
to 13 games with an 88-81 victory over Virginia (No. 12, No. 13) on Wednesday
night.
North Carolina (16-2, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 50-35
at halftime, but Virginia (13-4, 2-4) went on a 16-4 run to start
the second half. Donald Hand and Chris Williams keyed the run with
consecutive 3-pointers as the Cavaliers pulled within 54-51 just
five minutes in.
Forte answered with a layup, a three-point play and two pull-up
jumpers as North Carolina built the lead back to 65-57 with 11
minutes left. He also hit a 3-pointer with 5:15 left after Virginia
pulled within 75-71.
"He's an All-American and you put the ball in his hands,"
North Carolina coach Matt Doherty said. "He made some big, big
plays. He seems to focus better when the game's on the line."
Forte was also the difference in Saturday's 80-70 victory over
Florida State, scoring 12 straight points after the Tar Heels blew
most of a 19-point halftime lead.
Forte was 13-for-23 from the field against the Cavaliers and had
five rebounds and four assists.
"Forte is an unbelievable player," said Virginia coach Pete
Gillen, whose team has lost three of four in the ACC after opening
the season 10-0. "He's one of the best 2-guards I've seen in a
long time. He certainly was marvelous tonight."
The Tar Heels led by two with 13 minutes left in the first half,
but went on an 18-7 run to build a 39-23 lead. Forte ended the run
with a pull-up jumper and fed Kris Lang for a dunk with 5:39 left.
Virginia pulled within 39-32 on three straight 3-pointers, but
North Carolina finished the half on an 11-3 run. Max Owens capped
it with three straight free throws with nine seconds left.
Virginia made just 12 of 37 shots in the first half.
"You have to play well for 40 minutes and we got beat because
we didn't play well in the first 20 minutes," Gillen said. "You
can't get down 15 points to a tremendous team and expect to come
back."
Roger Mason led Virginia with 17 points, while Travis Watson had
16 points and 10 rebounds, and Williams added 14 points and 11
rebounds.
Jason Capel had 14 points and seven rebounds for North Carolina.
Brendan Haywood had four blocks -- three in the first half -- giving
him 27 in the last five games.
Virginia shot 42 percent overall, marking the 13th consecutive
game North Carolina held an opponent under 50 percent.
North Carolina made 20 of 34 shots in the first half in building
a 15-point lead. The Tar Heels shot 56 percent overall.
North Carolina has not lost since consecutive defeats to
Michigan State and Kentucky on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2.
"I'd like to think we are this good and I'd like to think we
can be better," Doherty said. "I don't feel necessarily that
we're overachieving. I think we're about where we should be and
hopefully we can get better."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Virginia Clubhouse
North Carolina Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 UNC's Brendan Haywood is open under the hoop for the two-handed jam.
avi: 1191 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
UNC's Joseph Forte steals the ball then takes it the other way for the deuce.
avi: 728 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Virginia's Keith Friel cuts through the lane and hits the floater over the Carolina defense.
avi: 514 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Virginia's Adam Hall steals the ball then gets the jam.
avi: 618 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
ESPN's Jay Bilas breaks down North Carolina's victory over Virginia.
avi: 5634 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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