• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

UNC pulls away in second half to beat LBSU

Nov 17, 2012 - 6:50 AM Long Beach, CA (Sports Network) - James Michael McAdoo scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, as No. 11 North Carolina fended off Long Beach State, 78-63, in a tough non-conference battle at the Walter Pyramid.

Marcus Paige chipped in 15 points and P.J. Hairston added 14 for the Tar Heels (3-0), who needed a 17-2 run in the second half to put the 49ers away.

James Ennis and Mike Caffey led Long Beach State (1-2) with 18 and 14 points, respectively, in the loss, which ended the program's 23-game home winning streak.

The Tar Heels made three of their first four attempts from 3-point range, but missed 13 straight to keep the 49ers in the game.

They finally hit their stride with just over 15 minutes remaining when Reggie Bullock and Paige hit from deep on consecutive possessions, the latter resulting in a 45-43 lead.

McAdoo followed with a three-point play and a tip-in, and after Ennis stopped the run with a layup, UNC hit 3-pointers four straight times down the floor. Bullock hit the first, Leslie McDonald followed and Hairston made two in a row for a sudden 62-48 cushion with 11 minutes to play.

The visitors led by double digits the rest of the way.

A tight first half ended with Brice Johnson putting in a pair of buckets in the final minute to give UNC a 33-32 edge.

Game Notes

North Carolina heads to Hawaii next week to participate in the Maui Invitational, starting with a matchup against Mississippi State on Monday ... The Tar Heels did not score any fastbreak points but held a 55-39 rebounding advantage ... There were nine ties and 10 lead changes.