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Green, UNC too strong for Chaminade

Nov 25, 2008 - 7:34 AM LAHAINA, Hawaii (Ticker) -- Despite the absence of its best player, North Carolina still had plenty to avoid becoming the next Virginia.

Senior Danny Green scored a career-high 26 points and Ty Lawson added 19 and seven assists as top-ranked North Carolina rolled without Tyler Hansbrough to a 115-70 triumph over Division II Chaminade in the first round of the Maui Invitational on Monday.

Wayne Ellington had 14 points for the Tar Heels (4-0), who shot 61 percent (48-of-79) from the field. North Carolina will play Oregon in the next round on Tuesday.

North Carolina decided to rest Hansbrough after last season's consensus Player of the Year made his season debut against UC Santa Barbara on Friday. Hansbrough has missed three contests with a stress reaction in his right shin and the Tar Heels were hesitant to play him in all three games of the Invitational.

The host of the Invitational, Chaminade's (0-2) 77-72 victory over No. 1 Virginia in 1982 is one of college basketball's all-time greatest upsets.

But the Tar Heels would not let lightning strike twice.

Ellington capped an early 22-5 run with a 3-pointer as North Carolina had a 25-9 lead with 9:27 left in the first half.

The Silverswords got back within nine but the Tar Heels finished strong and held a 48-25 bulge at the break.

A 20-7 burst to open the second half eliminated any chance of a miracle comeback as North Carolina took a 68-32 lead less than five minutes into the frame and continued its virtual layup line throughout the second half. North Carolina shot 69 percent (27-of-39) over the final 20 minutes.

Shane Hanson scored 15 points to lead the Silverswords, who committed 22 turnovers.