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BOX SCORE
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- North Carolina withstood a furious UCLA
rally, a raucous road crowd and its own nerves to pull off their
biggest win of the year.
| | North Carolina's Joseph Forte makes a pass while UCLA's Ray Young defends during Saturday's game. | Behind Joseph Forte's 29 points, the Tar Heels (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) beat
UCLA 80-70 Saturday after blowing an 18-point lead in the second
half.
"It's a big win for this team," said Jason Capel, who had 12
points and 10 rebounds. "It's our first really big win of the
year, especially on the road."
The Tar Heels (7-2) won their fourth straight after the Bruins
(4-4) roared back to lead by two points three times.
"We kind of panicked. We kind of got a little tentative,"
Capel said.
But the comeback took its toll with 5:55 remaining and UCLA
ahead 62-60. The Heels regrouped and ran off 16 straight points as
the Bruins reverted to their first-half form with missed shots and
turnovers. Carolina closed the game with an 18-8 run.
"That's what makes it discouraging because the kids scratched
and clawed," said Steve Lavin, who is 1-2 against Carolina in his
three seasons as UCLA coach, including a 41-point loss three years
ago.
The Bruins scored on just one of their final nine possessions
after not scoring on their first 12 possessions of the game.
"We gave up easy buckets, free throws," said Earl Watson, who
scored a career-high 30 points. "That's how they beat us."
UCLA's Matt Barnes added 18 points, his career high, and 10
rebounds.
Brendan Haywood added 13 rebounds as Carolina controlled the
boards, 47-36.
Trailing by 18 points early in the second half, the Bruins used
a 22-7 run to get within one with 9:55 remaining. Watson and Barnes
took over the offense, with Watson hitting two 3-pointers and
Barnes scoring over the 7-foot Haywood and keying a steal and
basket as the usually sedate crowd went wild.
"You never get a crowd like this at UCLA," said Watson, who
joined his teammates in urging the fans to get louder.
Watson and Barnes kept it up, hitting free throws and scoring
off offensive rebounds until UCLA led 62-60 on a basket by Watson
with 5:55 left.
"UCLA had a great run and the crowd behind them. We weathered
the storm," first-year Carolina coach Matt Doherty said. "This
win was an important win for our players' and coaches'
confidence."
The Heels made just three baskets during UCLA's rally, when
starters Haywood, Ronald Curry and Kris Lang each played with at
least three fouls. They overcame 22 turnovers in the game,
including eight by Curry.
"We had to stop them right there (62-60) and we did, then we
built our lead off our defense," Forte said. "They were giving us
problems with their press, just attacking and not worrying about
anything. We had to maintain our mindset and understand that we
can't turn the ball over if we wanted to win the game."
But the Heels found steady shooters in Capel and Forte. Capel
made all seven of his free throws and Forte was 6-of-7 over the
final 10 minutes.
Haywood missed all six of his free throws early in the second
half when UCLA began its big run.
"If we'd have lost the game, it would have been squarely on my
shoulders," Haywood said. "They were down by five when they
should really be down by 11 (his missed free throws). The stripe
can be your friend or your enemy. For about five minutes, it was
our enemy, and that's what helped them get back in the game"
Carolina scored the game's first 11 points and its defense kept
the Bruins from getting few open looks in the opening six minutes.
The Heels led by 19 in the first half, when UCLA shot 30 percent
and was 2-of-11 from 3-point range.
The Bruins shot just 33 percent for the game, the fourth
straight opponent that has failed to top 33 percent against
Carolina.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
North Carolina Clubhouse
UCLA Clubhouse
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