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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Hold Off Hokies 86-78
March 4, 2009 | Men's Basketball
March 4, 2009
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP)--Tyler Hansbrough had 22 points and 15 rebounds and No. 2 North Carolina stayed on track to win the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title with an 86-78 victory over fading Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.
The Tar Heels (26-3, 12-3), who lead Duke by one game heading into their regular season finale on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C., led almost throughout and took command with a 10-0 run that started with 5:03 to play--after the Hokies closed within one.
Virginia Tech (17-12, 7-8) lost for the fifth time in six games, and once again saw their hopes of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament dashed. The Hokies have lost seven of their last 10 games and they finish the regular season at Florida State on Sunday.
A.D. Vassallo led Virginia Tech with 25 points, while Malcolm Delaney had 19 and Jeff Allen added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hokies got within 63-62 on Vassallo's floater in the lane with 5:16 left, but Hansbrough hit two free throws and an 8-foot jumper, Lawson made two free throws and a layup and Danny Green finished the 10-0 burst with two free throws to make it 73-62.
Ty Lawson added 22 points for the Tar Heels and Wayne Ellington had 15.
Trailing 42-36 at halftime, the Hokies gradually closed the gap, finally pulling even for the first time since the opening minutes on Vassallo's runner that made it 50-all.
But Green answered with his first field goal, a 3-pointer from the left corner.
When Vassallo hit consecutive 3s later in the half, the latter tying it at 56 with 9:24 left, Green followed two free throws by Hansbrough and a Hokies' turnover with another 3-pointer, this one from the left wing, to give the Tar Heels a 61-56 lead with 8:35 left.
The Hokies got it back within one, but the Tar Heels then pulled away for good.
The Tar Heels opened the game with a 17-8 run and led throughout the first half. Tech closed to 39-36 on Allen's dunk 43 seconds before halftime, but Hansbrough hit a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left in the half for the 42-36 lead.
Hokies seniors Vassallo and Cheick Diakite were honored before the game, their last appearances at Cassell Coliseum unless the Hokies wind up with a home game in the NIT.
