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Feb. 20, 2000
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – Keith Friel saved Virginia from a potentialsecond-half collapse with 11 points in a span of 1:36 as the Cavaliers snappedan 18-game losing streak in Chapel Hill with a 90-76 victory over NorthCarolina on Sunday.
The win by Virginia (18-8, 8-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) was the first heresince 1981 and moved the Cavaliers one-half game in front of the Tar Heels(16-10, 7-5) for third place in the ACC.
Virginia came into the game 3-56 all-time in Chapel Hill, but used itssuperior quickness and the long-range shooting of Friel to pull off the keywin.
Travis Watson led the Cavaliers with 18 points and 11 rebounds. ChrisWilliams added 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
Jason Capel paced the Tar Heels with 17 points.
Friel, who didn’t play in the first half, came off the bench midway throughthe second period to sink three straight 3-pointers and a pair of foul shotsafter Virginia saw its 13-point halftime lead trimmed to eight on 2-for-15shooting.
Friel’s scoring outburst gave the Cavaliers a 63-46 lead with 9:09 left andNorth Carolina never got closer than six points to see its three-game winningstreak end.
Virginia kept North Carolina in the game over the final 3:13 by missing ninefree throws.
It was also the fifth home loss this season for the Tar Heels to tie aschool record. The last time North Carolina lost that many here in a season was56 years ago.
North Carolina’s offense was in disarray in the opening 20 minutes after aneight-day layoff. Its defense wasn’t much better as the quicker Cavaliersscored 10 layups and their press forced 12 first-half turnovers.
Coach Bill Guthridge was so disgusted with the effort of his starters hesubbed in the “Blue Team” with 5:25 left and the Tar Heels down 37-24.
While the five reserves got a standing ovation, they were outscored 9-4 asNorth Carolina fell into a deeper hole before cutting the halftime deficit to13.
Watson, giving away 5 inches to 7-footer Brendan Haywood, made six of eightshots in the opening half for 12 points before picking up his third foul on acharge.