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Hansbrough, North Carolina look for better showing vs. Iona

Nov 18, 2007 - 2:28 PM Iona (0-2) at No. 1 North Carolina (1-0) 6:00 pm EST

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (Ticker) - Top-ranked North Carolina should have things much easier against Iona than it Davidson.

Tyler Hansbrough and the Tar Heels look to put forward a better showing when they host the Gaels on Sunday.

Hansbrough was held without a field goal in the second half of Wednesday's opener, but sophomore guard Wayne Ellington scored 20 points to help pull out a 72-68 win over Davidson.

The Tar Heels nearly became the third ranked team to lose to a mid-major in an opener after Gardner-Webb stunned then No. 20 Kentucky and Mercer shocked previously 18th-ranked Southern California.

However, coach Roy Williams was not too angry about his team's lackadaisical performance.

"I told the guys in one of the huddles, 'You may not believe this right now, but I love this,'" Williams said. "This is great for us."

But Hansbrough and company would like to show they deserve their lofty ranking. And that starts with taking care of business against Iona, which has lost its first two games.

Dexter Gray led the way with 18 points in Wednesday's 66-58 loss to Princeton in which the Gaels shot just 39 percent (21-of-53).