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Tar Heels too much for mistake-prone Wake Forest

Jan 25, 2007 - 6:25 AM WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Freshmen Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson helped North Carolina overcome a sluggish start and bury an overmatched opponent.

Ellington scored 18 points and Lawson sparked a decisive second-half run as No. 4 North Carolina pulled away for an 88-60 victory over the sliding Demon Deacons.

Wake Forest entered the game mired in a four-game losing streak and battled North Carolina pretty much on even terms throughout the first half. The Demon Deacons went on a 7-2 run to close out the half and were within 42-37 at the break after a 3-pointer by Anthony Gurley.

A 3-pointer by freshman Jamie Skeen pulled Wake Forest within 52-46 with 16:04 to play before Lawson and the Tar Heels (18-2, 5-1 ACC) pulled away.

"We feel very good about a road win in the ACC as you always should," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "The first 10-12 minutes of the second half we played pretty well offensively."

Lawson hit a 3-pointer to answer Skeen and spark a 20-5 run. Ellington capped the spurt with a layup and a 3-pointer to give North Carolina a 72-51 lead with 8:34 to play.

"I have to take my hat off to Carolina," Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser said. "In the second half they played really, really well. Nineteen turnovers, 30 percent from the field, certainly allows Carolina to get out in transition."

Kyle Visser scored 16 points for the Demon Deacons (9-10, 1-6), who saw their 19 turnovers converted into 25 points for the Tar Heels.

"You have to give Carolina credit, they played good defense in the second half," Visser said.

Lawson had 15 points and Tyler Hansbrough scored 11 of his 13 in the first half for North Carolina, which has won three straight.

The Demon Deacons were down as many as 10 in the first half but stayed close by hitting six 3-pointers and outrebounding the Tar Heels, 20-17.

While Hansbrough carried North Carolina in the first half, it was Lawson who led the way after the break, scoring all his points and adding three steals.

"I did tell him that we needed a big half out of him," Williams said. "If that's all it takes, then I'm going to tell him that every game."