University of North Carolina Athletics
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Virginia Tech
No. 5 North Carolina Dominates Virginia Tech, 85-51
December 19, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2004
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Jawad Williams and Sean May each scored 17 points and No. 5 North Carolina gave Virginia Tech a rough welcome to Atlantic Coast Conference basketball Sunday, beating the Hokies 85-51.
The Tar Heels (8-1) won their eighth straight since a season-opening loss to Santa Clara. They scored 17 of the last 21 points to lead 41-27 at halftime, then started the second half on a 16-5 run to put it away.
Virginia Tech (5-3), overmatched inside and out, kept it close for the first 15 minutes on the strength of Zabian Dowdell's 16-point first half, but couldn't keep pace once the Tar Heels starting pounding it inside.
Raymond Felton added 15 points and Marvin Williams had 12 for North Carolina, which emptied the bench in the second half, using 14 players.
North Carolina led 71-41 after two free throws by May with 6:20 to play, and the rest of the game was essentially a demonstration of individual skills as players for both teams attempted highlight reel dunks and passes.
Dowdell led the Hokies with 21 points.
North Carolina's halftime lead came after it shot 65 percent from the field, but the Tar Heels needed the big run to erase some sloppy early play.
Playing as if victory would come easily, the Tar Heels committed 12 turnovers in the half and allowed the Hokies to get several putbacks.
Dowdell's third 3-pointer of the half pulled the Hokies within 24-23, and then North Carolina got serious, exploiting the Hokies inside.
May had 11 points in the half and Jawad Williams nine.
