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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo's Reggie Witherspoon didn't wilt in
his coaching debut against one of the nation's top teams.
"I told my players I wanted them to be focused," Witherspoon
said after his team led for one half before losing to North
Carolina 91-67 on Tuesday. "I can't expect them to be focused if
I'm dropping my jaw because we're playing North Carolina."
Joseph Forte scored 19 points as No. 7 North Carolina shook off a sluggish first half.
Jason Capel, who had 13 points and 12 rebounds, gave North
Carolina a 48-47 lead early in the second half. The Tar Heels
pulled away from there, outscoring Buffalo 43-20.
Alexei Vasiliev added 15 points for Buffalo.
"We didn't have time to prepare, but we didn't have time to get
intimidated," Witherspoon said. "With a few more practices, we'll
get better."
Witherspoon was coaching Erie Community College when Buffalo
tapped him over the weekend to replace Tim Cohane, who resigned in
the midst of an investigation of the program for undisclosed
violations of NCAA rules.
He seemed to bring some magic with him early as Buffalo (2-4)
led by as many as 12 points in the first half and by five at
halftime before North Carolina (6-1) finally woke up and roared
away down the stretch.
"Buffalo should feel good about the first half," North
Carolina coach Bill Guthridge said.
Asked how he felt about his team's play in the half, Guthridge
said: "Not very good. Buffalo made some good shots and made some
easy shots."
North Carolina, which travels to Chicago for a game against No.
1 Cincinnati in the Great Eight Basketball Challenge on Wednesday
night, tried some new things against Buffalo.
"We were experimenting with the lineup and it didn't work
out," Guthridge said. Asked why he tinkered with the lineup, he
said: "Because I'm the head coach and I just decided to do that."
"I'm proud of the way our kids came back in the second half,"
Guthridge said. "We executed the way we had to."
The Tar Heels missed their first six shots and 12 of their first
13 as Buffalo opened a 15-5 lead.
Forte, who hit three 3-pointers, kept North Carolina close with
11 points in the half.
"Hopefully, we'll be ready to play tomorrow night," said North
Carolina guard Ed Cota, who had seven assists.
It doesn't get easier for Buffalo, which plays Indiana in the
Indiana Classic on Friday.
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