(Photo by UNC Sports Information)

North Carolina brought in the New Year much the same way as they ended it - with inconsistent guard play, little inside presence and the ability to come from behind without winning. The Tar Heels fell at Louisville 83-70 after failing to score a basket over the last five minutes. (1/1)

The Tar Heels got behind early again, trailing for most of the first half and taking a 37-31 deficit into halftime. Louisville promptly increased the margin to 11 at 51-40 following a three by Louisville's Khani Rooths four minutes into the second half.

“I don't think this game was similar to other games earlier in the year. I don't, I don't," UNC coach Hubert Davis said. "Those other games, we were down 16 or 18. I don't think we were that way in the second half at all. Felt like we were always two or three possessions away the entire game."

An 8-0 Carolina run midway through the second half got the Heels back in it, trailing just 59-58 after a Drake Powell layup with 9:19 to play.

Later, UNC managed to tie it at 61-all on a three-pointer from Ian Jackson but, unfortunately for the Heels, the Cardinals' Reyne Smith drilled a three seconds later. Louisville kept the lead the rest of the way although Carolina pulled to within one at 70-69 with just over five minutes to go.

Behind Chucky Hepburn's five free throws, Louisville kept the Heels at bay as the Cardinals outscored Carolina 13-1 over the last five minutes.

"It got away towards the end, but I felt like we were right there throughout the entire game," Coach Davis said. "I think we were tied, we missed a couple shots to take the lead. We were down by one, missed a couple shots to take the lead. And so we had our chances.”

Much of the game seemed to be either a three-point shooting contest or a free throw shooting contest. Carolina hit just four of 16 threes while Louisville managed only six of 26 threes. The Cardinals had an even bigger advantage at the free throw line where they were 25 of 39. Three Tar Heels - Eliot Cadeau, Cade Tyson and Drake Powell - fouled out. The Heels were 18 of 23 from the line.

Jackson led the way for Carolina with 23 points while Powell chipped in 14 and RJ Davis managed 12.

Hepburn's 26 points led the Cardinals, who improve to 9-5 and 2-1 in the ACC.

The Tar Heels, now 8-6 overall and 1-1 in the conference, take on Notre Dame on the road Saturday at noon.

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