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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Gardner-Webb
North Carolina Holds On To Beat Gardner-Webb
November 19, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - David Noel made a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left and defending national champ North Carolina began what promises to be a rebuilding season by holding off Gardner-Webb 83-80 Saturday night.
The Tar Heels, who lost their top seven scorers from a year ago, were in control for most of the second half before the Runnin' Bulldogs frantically rallied. After falling behind by 11 midway through the final 20 minutes, they used two 3-pointers from Ricky McPhee to get within five, then consecutive jumpers from Simon Conn and Tim Jennings to make it 74-73 with 4 1/2 minutes left.
A tip by Marcus Ginyard later increased North Carolina's margin to five. But Bobby Frasor, one of three freshmen in the starting lineup, missed the front end of a 1-and-1, and veterans Noel and Reyshawn Terry each bricked a pair of free throws to keep Gardner-Webb close.
Chris Gash got inside for a layup before McPhee launched a 3 from well behind the line. It rattled in with 11 seconds left to tie it at 70, and the Tar Heels quickly raced up the court. Noel got open at the top of the key, and his shot bounced around the rim before falling.
With no timeouts left, the Runnin' Bulldogs had a last chance, but Gash's heave from halfcourt was well off the mark, and North Carolina's players and fans celebrated as if they had just beaten an Atlantic Coast Conference foe.
Yet there might not be many victories to enjoy for the Tar Heels. They are the first championship program to start the next season unranked since 1988-89, and it looks as if the omission was justified.
Tyler Hansbrough had 21 points to lead North Carolina, and Noel and freshman Danny Green scored 17 apiece.
As Tar Heels coach Roy Williams pointed out in the days leading up to this game, the Runnin' Bulldogs have all five starters back from the team that tied for the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title last season. McPhee isn't one of those, but he repeatedly burned the Tar Heels from long range.
The 6-foot-2 freshman came off the bench to make 4-of-6 on 3s for his 21 points, and Jennings scored 20. Gardner-Webb shot 50 percent and forced 20 turnovers from North Carolina. Eight of those came from the point-guard duo of Frasor and Quentin Thomas.
Still, it was a victory - leaving the Tar Heels 84-12 all-time in openers - and there are two more home games against unranked opponents before the difficult part of the schedule arrives. That includes a visit from Illinois, which lost to North Carolina in the championship game last April, and a trip to Kentucky.
