NAfter coming back to defeat good Virginia and Virginia Tech teams, North Carolina couldn't do the same against one of worst teams in the ACC as Georgia Tech blew out the Heels 78-58 in Atlanta. (1/16)
UNC got behind early again trailing 10-2 after four minutes. Carolina came back to tie it at 10 only to get outscored 12-2 to go down 10 again. After a pair of baskets by John Henson, the Heels cut the margin to just one at 33-32.
But an 8-0 run by the Yellow Jackets to start the second half put the Heels back in its comeback mode down 41-33. But a 24-11 GT run over the next 10 minutes put to rest any chance for a comeback this time as the Jackets went up 65-50 with five minutes left.
The Tar Heels didn't do anything well as they shot less than 28 percent, turned the ball over 18 times and didn't guard Georgia Tech's best scorers in Iman Shumpert, who scored 30, and Glen Rice Jr., who scored 24. Both players tied their career highs.
Carolina had a chance to be the only remaining unbeaten team in the league but instead played uninspired, careless basketball and never once led. All five starters were removed less than three minutes into the game and the trend continued throughout the game. Before the late first-half run by the Heels, the starters had been outscored 22-4 while they were in the game.
The reserves kept the Tar Heels relatively close but ultimately didn't play much better.
"We didn't execute," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "We missed layups. I don't think I've ever had a game where we missed so many layups. ... One of our problems was just passing and catching, very elementary things."
Harrison Barnes and John Henson led Carolina with 11 points each as the Heels fell to 12-5 and 2-1 in the ACC. Georgia Tech improves to 8-8 and 1-2 in the league.
The Tar Heels return home Tuesday night for a matchup against Clemson in a game the Tigers must feel they can finally win in Chapel Hill.
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