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Tar Heels aim to avoid second straight home loss

Jan 31, 2008 - 2:42 PM Boston College (12-6) at No. 4 North Carolina (19-1) 7:00 pm EST

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (Ticker) - Tyler Hansbrough and No. 4 North Carolina aim to avoid losing two straight at home for the first time in two years on Thursday when they host Boston College in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest.

Hansbrough was limited to 17 points as then-No. 1 North Carolina suffered its first loss, 82-80, to Maryland on January 19. However, the Wooden Award candidate responded by scoring 27 of his season-high 35 points in the second half of a 98-82 victory over Miami on January 23.

The Tar Heels (19-1, 4-1 ACC), who have not lost two straight here since January 14 and 25 of 2006, will take the court after an eight-day layoff.

They face one of the team's responsible for their last two-game home losing streak.

Boston College (12-6, 3-2), which handed North Carolina a second straight home loss in 2006, has lost consecutive games.

The Eagles fell, 81-73, to Virginia Tech in overtime on Saturday. Junior guard Tyrese Rice scored 27 points and sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

North Carolina also was ranked fourth last February 17 when it posted a 77-72 victory at Boston College. The Tar Heels also bounced the Eagles from the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.