(Photo by UNC Sports Information)

North Carolina rallied from 17 points down against No. 7 and unbeaten Florida to take a four-point lead late but fell apart as the Gators scored eight straight to defeat the Tar Heels 90-84 in the Jumpman Tournament in Charlotte. (12/17)

The Tar Heels started slow once again as Florida went on a 10-0 run to take control early, working the lead up to 17 in the first half before settling for a 46-34 halftime lead.

"It hasn't been sustainable all year to play only one half of Carolina basketball," UNC coach Hubert Davis said. "I'm proud of the way we got back in the game but the requirement is to bring the fight the whole game."

Carolina rallied from its worst shooting half of the season (29.7 percent) to quickly cut the margin to one at 46-45 with 17:32 left after RJ Davis sank a long two pointer Cadto complete a 9-0 run.

UNC couldn't get over the hump as Florida kept a lead in the three to seven-point range for most of the second half until a Davis jumper cut it back to one at 68-67 with 8:07 left. Then Carolina finally took the lead when Seth Trimble came up with a steal and falling-down layup. He was fouled and hit the free throw to put Carolina up 70-68 with 7:56 to go.

After Florida tied it, Davis hit a step-back three to put the Heels up 77-74 but olay defense from Eliot Cadeau allowed the Gators' Walter Clayton to score and draw the foul, tying it back up.

Cadeau, who had seven assists, found an open Davis under the basket for a bucket before whipping it to Jalen Washington who scored down the lane for an 81-77 Carolian lead with just 4:03 left.

But the Tar Heels, who may have gotten tired after the big comeback, fell apart. Davis missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw situation and Ven-Allen Lubin missed a free throw. Cadeau lost the ball out of bounds and Davis threw up a long three that was way off.

Meanwhile Florida was getting offensive rebounds and put backs and free throws, going on an 8-0 run over the last 1:49. The Gators came down with 11 second-chance points in the last six minutes.

"We made them miss but they got the rebound," Coach Davis said. Carolina held the Gators to only 39 percent shooting in the second half after Florida had shot 53 percent in the first half.

Carolina's shooting was not good throughout as the Heels shot a season-low 17.9 percent from three and managed to hit only 13 of 19 from the free throw line.

Davis, who hit only three of 11 from three, led the Tar Heels with 29 points, going seven of eight from two-point range. Trimble, Cadeau and Ian Jackson also hit double figures with 11 points each.

Will Richard led Florida, now 11-0, with 22 points as he hit eight of 10 shots including three triples.

The Tar Heels, who fall to 6-5 on the season, have another tough one Saturday afternoon as they take on UCLA in New York.

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