CB3 Media Heel Prints

Check back prior to the 2008 season for a preview and a program outlook.

Click here for Carolina baseball analysis.

Off the cuff: It was a good win for Carolina after two embarrassing losses but the Tar Heels really should have won by 20. Not that they are that much better than the Hokies but the Tar Heels missed a slew of layups and put-back shots inside.

As it was, the Tar Heels were a bad free-throw shooting game away from losing. Instead Carolina hit 22 of 26 from the line, doing of a good job of drawing fouls.

The Hokies shot 15 fewer free throws than the Heels and made 15 fewer free throws.

The outcome was teetering late with the Tar Heels nursing a four-point lead and losing Bacot to fouls with five minutes left.

But a Brady Manek dunk and three-pointer from right in front of the Carolina bench helped get the Heels back in control.

During an 11-2 run late, Davis also hit a big three from the right corner. Carolina got the lead up to 13 before settling for the 10-point victory.

The Tar Heels have big home games Wednesday and Saturday against Boston College and N.C. State. They'll have do it without Anthony Harris, who is out for the season for mysterious reasons, and probably Dawson Garcia, who flew back to Minnesota to be with an unidentified ailing relative.

Tar Heels 78, Virginia Tech 68
Heels stop the bleeding with home win

North Carolina has suffered all six of its losses on the road, including two straight lopsided losses, but the Tar Heels returned home to stop the bleeding with a 78-68 victory over Virginia Tech. (1/24)

All five UNC starters finished in double figures with Caleb Love leading the way with 22 points. He didn't shoot particularly well from the floor, going five of 14, but he hit nine of 11 free throws.

"It was a tough week last week but I'm proud of our guys for bouncing back," UNC coach Hubert Davis said. "It was a regular conference game with things going up and down throughout the game."

Carolina started the game hot, running out to a 17-6 lead over the first seven minutes. But the Hokies, behind three threes from three different players, went on a 15-2 run to take a 21-19 lead.

The lead went back and forth until Love tied it on a free throw after a VT hanging-on-the- rim technical and then Love hit a step-back three to put Carolina up 33-30.

Down 37-33 at the half, Virginia Tech scored the first five points of the second half to go back on top 38-37.

The Tar Heels came back with a 10-2 run of their own capped by a rare Leaky Black three from the left corner to give the Heels a 47-40 lead.

Carolina let the Hokies back in it after going one of 14 from the floor and going 12 minutes between two-point baskets.

Up just 54-52, Carolina got a big three pointer by transfer Brady Manek. A Manek dunk follow, a couple of free throws from Love and a Manek three put the Heels back in control at 65-54 with 3:44 to go.

Virginia Tech, now 2-6 in the ACC, never got closer than eight the rest of the way. Keve Aluma led the Hokies with 19 points.

Joining Love in scoring for the Heels were Manek and R.J. Davis with 15 each, Armando Bacot with 14 and Black with 10.

North Carolina, now 13-6 and 5-3 in the ACC, hosts Boston College Wednesday night. The Tar Heels were playing without Damon Garcia, who went back home to be with an ailing relative.

Box Score

UNC's Leaky Black hit a couple of key threes and finished with 10 points in a win against Virginia Tech. (UNC Sports Information photo)

Check out the other game articles.
Read my Tar Heels' season preview on by clicking here.