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Cavs Fall To North Carolina
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March 1, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – David Noel had 19 of his career-high 26 points in the first half of the final home game of his career, Reyshawn Terry added 17 points and No. 13 North Carolina beat Virginia 99-54 Wednesday night.
With the victory, the Tar Heels (20-6, 11-4) clinched a tie for second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference and reached 20 victories for the 33rd time in 36 seasons. Tyler Hansbrough finished with 13 points and Marcus Ginyard scored 10 as North Carolina won for the ninth time in 10 games.
This one turned into a rout early, and the final margin was the largest in the 95-year history of the rivalry. The Cavaliers (14-12, 7-8) had their final lead at 7-5 and the last of three ties came when Hansbrough converted two free throws on the ensuing possession.
That started a 20-5 run that increased the margin to 15 points, and it never fell below 12 the rest of the way.
J.R. Reynolds had 19 points and Sean Singletary scored 14 for Virginia, which still can finish with a .500 record in the ACC by beating Maryland on Sunday at home.
Noel, honored after the final buzzer along with fellow seniors Byron Sanders and walk-ons Will Robinson and Thomas Wilkins, made this a memorable outing from the start. He banked in a 3-pointer for his first points and continued looking for his offense, and no matter where he was on the court, his shot was falling.
Noel scored 13 more points in a 2 1/2-minute span, capped with another 3 to give the Tar Heels a 23-9 lead. All those came off assists, and North Carolina completed the first half with 14 on its 17 baskets.
It was 49-24 at halftime before Reynolds scored four quick points, but the Cavaliers were a long way from a rally. Wes Miller swished a 3-pointer on the other end, and Terry added another when the Tar Heels got the ball back.
The other seniors got the same, even Wilkins, who missed two free throws in the final seconds that would have pushed the Tar Heels over 100 points.