7North Carolina 56 - 78 UCLA
Final
  for this game

Paige scores 21 as UNC routs UCLA

Nov 28, 2014 - 4:37 AM Nassau, Bahamas (SportsNetwork.com) - Marcus Paige totaled 21 points and five assists and No. 5 North Carolina got back on track with a 78-56 dismantling of 22nd-ranked UCLA in the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Justin Jackson scored 12 points while J.P. Tokoto and Isaiah Hicks netted 10 apiece for the Tar Heels (4-1), who were upset by Butler in the opening round of the tournament.

Nothing went right in this one for UCLA (4-2), which was pressured into 23 turnovers and went just 1-of-14 shooting from behind the arc.

Norman Powell finished with 15 points and five steals in the setback.

UCLA was the better team out of the gate. Bryce Alford's jumper at 13:55 capped a hot-shooting start that spotted the Bruins an 18-11 lead.

UNC then rattled off six straight and 11 of the next 12 points to climb in front.

A wide open 3 from the right wing and two free throws from Paige just out of the final media timeout gave the Tar Heels a 36-26 lead.

Jackson split a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left, but Theo Pinson kept the possession alive with an offensive rebound on the miss. Tokoto hit iron on a jumper as the clock neared zero, but again Pinson was Johnny on the spot, climbing the ladder to slam home the rebound as time expired.

Carolina finished the half on an 18-4 run and led 43-29 at halftime.

UCLA freshman Kevon Looney, who had posted double-doubles in four straight before Thursday's game, picked up his fourth foul on the first possession of the second half. His replacement, Gyorgy Goloman, hit a jumper to start a 9-2 swing, but the Bruins ran out of steam after that.

Paige hit consecutive 3s during a 15-0 flurry that spanned two media timeouts and put the Tar Heels up by 24 near the midway point of the second.

Game Notes

UNC improved to 7-3 all-time against UCLA ... The Tar Heels will take on Florida third round, while UCLA will meet UAB ... UCLA guard Isaac Hamilton had no points on 0-for-6 shooting and seven turnovers.






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