Nov. 28, 2007

Defensive Effort Proves Key in 66-55 Tar Heel Win

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Wayne Ellington and Deon Thompson led a second-half surge and No. 1 North Carolina held Ohio State without a field goal for almost 11 minutes in a 66-55 victory Wednesday night.

Ellington, averaging 17 points per game, scored 23 and Thompson had 14, most at critical times for the Tar Heels (6-0). Tyler Hansbrough had 13 points and 11 rebounds in one of the premier matchups of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Freshman Jon Diebler came out of a shooting slump to score 19 points for Ohio State (4-2), which had won six of its last seven games against No. 1 teams. Jamar Butler added 17 points and David Lighty had 10.

North Carolina was without starting point guard Ty Lawson. He was dressed but did not go through warmups and wore a high plastic brace on his injured right ankle.

Hayes Leads Terps Past Illini In Big Ten/ACC Challenge

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Eric Hayes scored a career-high 18 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 24 seconds, and Maryland held on to beat Illinois 69-61 Wednesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

James Gist had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Terrapins (5-2) and Greivis Vasquez offset a 2-for-14 shooting night with 10 assists.

Calvin Brock led Illinois (4-2) with 13 points. The Fighting Illini shot only 33 percent and went 9-for-29 from 3-point range.

After Landon Milbourne made two free throws to give Maryland a 64-60 lead with 1 minute left, Brian Randle made one of two foul shots for the Illini. Hayes then sank two at the line, Vasquez made one and Hayes capped the scoring with two free throws with 8.9 seconds to go.

Seconds earlier, fans in the crowd began chanting "ACC! ACC!"

Boston College Takes Down Michigan, 77-64

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Tyrese Rice scored 28 points and had five assists Wednesday to help Boston College to its fifth straight win, a 77-64 victory over Michigan in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Shamari Spears had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Rakim Sanders added 10 points for the Eagles (5-0), who were playing away from home for the first time this season.

Michigan trailed 54-52 midway through the second half after DeShawn Sims' dunk, but Boston College answered with 12 straight points during a two-minute stretch to take command. Rice got it started with a breakaway layup.

The Wolverines never got no closer than seven points the rest of the game.

Wolfpack Falls at Michigan State, 81-58

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -Goran Suton had 16 points and 12 rebounds and No. 10 Michigan State cruised past No. 24 North Carolina State 81-58 on Wednesday night.

The Spartans (5-1) have won 30 straight nonconference home games at Breslin Center, extending what was the nation's sixth-longest active streak entering the game that was part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

J.J. Hickson had 21 points and 10 rebounds for N.C. State (4-2), which shot poorly and was dominated on the boards by the Spartans.

Michigan State led by as many as 32 points in the second half before the Wolfpack rallied late to make the final score closer.

Virginia Tech Falls Short at Penn State, 66-61

More to follow...