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Hansbrough, North Carolina look to stay unbeaten

Dec 19, 2007 - 2:12 PM Nicholls St (4-7) at No. 1 North Carolina (9-0) 9:00 pm EST

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (Ticker) -- North Carolina hopes a return to its home floor will be just as successful as its last road trip.

The top-ranked Tar Heels look to make it 10 straight wins to begin the season when they play their first home game in nearly a month against Nicholls State on Wednesday.

North Carolina, which last played at home on November 20, capped a six-game road trip with a 93-71 victory at Rutgers on Sunday.

The 9-0 start is also the best for North Carolina since beginning the 1997-98 season by winning its first 17 games.

The road trip almost ended in disaster when leading scorer and rebounder Tyler Hansbrough left the game late in the second half with a concussion. However, the junior is listed as probable for Wednesday's tilt.

Sophomore point guard Ty Lawson scored a career-high 26 points in Sunday's win, while Hansbrough posted his fourth consecutive double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds before leaving the game.

After losing five straight games earlier in the season, the Colonels have won two in a row.

Nicholls State has two players averaging in double figures with Michael Czepil and Ryan Bathie scoring 11.6 and 11.5 points per game, respectively.