North Carolina N. Carolina/North Carolina State N.C. State Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

Joseph Forte scored 21 points and Haywood made two clutch free throws with 1:17 left as North Carolina (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) remained undefeated in the ACC with a 60-52 win over N.C. State.

The 7-foot Haywood came into his senior season a 63 percent shooter at the foul line, but has struggled miserably there this season, shooting just 49 percent. And the center had missed his first two Sunday before coming through with the game hanging in the balance.

"You guys don't understand how hard he works at the foul line," North Carolina coach Matt Doherty said. "It's neat to see it pay off."

Haywood, who is shooting an even worse 39 percent from the line in ACC games, said he spent about 1½ hours in a Greensboro gym working on his free throws on Christmas.

"Everybody else was opening their presents about 10 o'clock in the morning and I was in the gym shooting free throws," Haywood said.

But the hard work provided results against the Wolfpack.

"I was a little nervous, you don't want to be too overconfident or smug about it," Haywood said of his thoughts as he stepped to the line and his team clinging to a one-point lead. "I knew I had missed my first two, but at the same time I just was thinking about the mechanics and I said them all in my head before I shot and it came through for me."

Haywood helped the Tar Heels (17-2, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat the Wolfpack for the sixth straight time and 10th in the last 11.

North Carolina will head into Thursday night's showdown against No. 2 Duke tied with the Blue Devils for first in the ACC and with a 14-game winning streak.

The Wolfpack (10-8, 2-5) shot 31 percent and fell to 8-24 against ranked teams under coach Herb Sendek.

The Tar Heels led by as many as 11 early in the second half, but scored only five points over a nine-minute span, allowing the Wolfpack back into the game.

"This is tough to come in here and you know they're going to play their hardest," Doherty said of the Wolfpack's effort in front of 19,722. "It wasn't an easy game to play."

N.C. State closed to 49-48 with 4:14 left, but Forte sank a 3-pointer and Haywood made two free throws three minutes later after the Wolfpack had pulled within one again.

Haywood was 2-for-9 in his previous two games from the line, but he hit both and the Tar Heels escaped with two more free throws and a dunk by Forte, and a free throw by Ronald Curry over the final 25.3 seconds.

"I was thinking I wanted to see how mentally tough he is," Forte said when Haywood stepped to the line. "I came up to him and told him, 'Just make one for me.' He made two for me. He went the extra mile as far as I'm concerned."

Twenty-five seconds after making the two clutch free throws, Haywood jumped out and blocked a 3-point attempt by Scooter Sherrill in the left corner and North Carolina got the ball back.

Haywood finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five blocks.

The Tar Heels held their 14th straight opponent under 50 percent shooting and haven't lost since Dec. 2 against Kentucky.

Anthony Grundy, playing one day after being arrested on an assault charge, had 12 points for the Wolfpack, as did Damien Wilkins.

"You tend to have a lot of things weigh on your mind, and it was kind of tough, but my teammates and coaching staff have done a great job of standing behind me. I just wanted to be there for my team," Grundy said.

Grundy, a junior and the team's leading scorer, maintained he is innocent of the charge and said the incident with a female early Saturday morning was a misunderstanding.

The Wolfpack had a miserable beginning and finish to the first half and shot 19.4 percent

N.C. State missed its first nine shots and 13 of 14 as the Tar Heels built a 10-point lead midway through the opening 20 minutes.

North Carolina then went cold, had trouble handling the N.C. State press and got into foul trouble as the Wolfpack pulled to 23-21 with 5:32 left before the break.

The Tar Heels were limited to one basket over that seven-minute span, but got two dunks from Haywood, a layup from Max Owens and a jumper by Forte to close the half on an 8-0 run and a 31-21 lead.

ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

North Carolina Clubhouse

North Carolina State Clubhouse

North Carolina State's Grundy charged with assault

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
Joseph Forte steals the inbound pass and goes the distance for the finger-roll.
avi: 607 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

Brendan Haywood's rejection deflects off Anthony Grundy and Carolina gains possession.
avi: 834 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

Kris Lang is blocked by Kenny Inge, but the second effort translates to the basket and the foul.
avi: 602 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

Damien Wilkins would not be denied as he slams it home on the 1-on-3 break.
avi: 1026 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

Anthony Grundy drives the lane and manages to hit the leaner.
avi: 966 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1