(Photo by UNC Sports Information)
In the last 30 seconds in Raleigh, North Carolina's Jalen Washington dunked one in and kept one out with a block to give the Tar Heels a 63-61 over N.C. State. (1/11)

It was an ugly game for both teams as the Wolfpack scored a season-low 20 points hitting only 22 percent of their shots in the first half and the Tar Heels turned the ball over 12 times and missed half their free throws.

The Wolfpack shot better in the second half, at one point hitting five straight shots to erase a nine-point Carolina lead. UNC's Ian Jackson, who scored a game-high 21 points, drilled a three from the right sideline to give the Heels a 56-47 lead with 5:51 to go.

That's when State went to work, outscoring Carolina 12-2 over the next three minutes to take a 59-58 lead on a jumper by Marcus Hill, who led the Pack with 20 points.

Jackson hit another three from the right side with under two minutes to go to put the Heels back up 61-59 but 30 seconds later Hill responded by driving around Heels for a layup to tie it at 61.

UNC's RJ Davis missed an open jumper with just over a minute to play but the Carolina defense forced a turnover on the other end with 41 seconds to go. Eliot Cadeau, who had turned the ball over twice during State's 12-2 run, dribbled low but was stiffled when he hooked an over-the-shoulder pass to Washington who promptly dunked it.

"I went to an open spot and Eliot made an incredible pass," said Washington, who was doused with cold water by teammates in the lockerroom in celebration. On the defensive end, he anticipated the Jayden Taylor runner to the left of the lane, blocked it and came up with the loose ball as the clock expired.

Washington, who has been considered the weak link in Carolina's starting five, more than held his own this time throughout the game. He had six points and seven rebounds in the first half as the Heels led 26-20 at the break. He finished with his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, along with three blocked shots.

UNC coach Hubert Davis said that Washington is playing with more confidence and, as a result Coach Davis has more confidence in Washington as he indicated that he is counting on the 6-foot-10 junior to be the presence the team has needed in the paint. But he named nearly every Tar Heel as making a positive impact.

"Whatever it took to come up with a win on the road the guys did today," UNC coach Hubert Davis said. "Our guys made impactful plays on both ends of the court."

While Hill was the offensive leader for the Wolfpack, Ben Middlebrooks kept the home team in the game with a career-high 14 rebounds for State, which falls to 9-7 overall and 2-3 in the ACC.

The Tar Heels, who host Cal Wednesday at 7 p.m., improve to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

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