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  Saturday, Dec. 18 7:00pm ET
Tar Heels hold off Hurricanes
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- North Carolina's Jason Capel did little wrong for the second consecutive game.

And that should scare everyone on the Tar Heels' schedule.

Capel, a sophomore forward, had 20 points and 11 rebounds and North Carolina (No. 9 ESPN/USA Today, No. 7 AP) withstood a late rally to beat Miami 78-68 in the Orange Bowl Classic on Saturday.

The Tar Heels (8-2) needed only two baskets in the final six minutes. The rest of their points came at the free-throw line, where they hit 9-of-12 down the stretch.

Capel connected on eight of 10 free throws and was selected the game's MVP.

He recorded his first back-to-back, 20-point outings of his career. Capel scored 21 points against Tennessee Tech last week.

"Jason Capel was sensational," North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge said.

Miami (4-3) cut the deficit to 69-64 with 1:44 remaining behind the play of Johnny Hemsley, who led the Hurricanes with 21 points.

Hemsley hit a running one-hander, a 3-pointer and added a three-point play as the Hurricanes fought back from a 13-point halftime deficit. Hemsley had shooting troubles, missing 22 of 30 shots, including nine of 10 from 3-point range.

Hemsley was just 2-of-13 in the first half with four points.

"In the first half, Johnny Hemsley might have had the best looks he's had all year," Miami coach Leonard Hamilton said. "They just didn't fall. He's a rhythm shooter. Tonight just wasn't his night, but 90 percent of his shots were shots we'd encourage him to take."

Hemsley, the only Miami player to score during a seven-minute stretch in the second half, wasn't enough.

Max Owens had 17 points, Joseph Forte 14 and Ed Cota 11 as the Tar Heels won for the seventh time in eight games away from home this season.

North Carolina used runs of 12-2 and 8-2 in the first half to build a 41-28 lead at the break.

Miami cut the lead to 46-37 early in the second half, but the Tar Heels scored the next seven points and looked ready to pull away.

Hemsley kept the game close, though. He reeled off 15 straight points, outscoring the Tar Heels 13-6 at one point, but got little help from his teammates.

"Hemsley's too good a player to not make some shots," Capel said. "They kept coming back, but we played good defense and finally put them away. We knew they'd make a run. We just had to weather the storm."

John Salmons hit a layup with 34 seconds to play to become the first player other than Hemsley to score for the 'Canes since the 7:43 mark in the second half. Salmons finished with 15 points.

Cota, Owens and Forte combined to hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute.

"This was probably our best game of the year because of the quality of the opponent," Guthridge said. "That was a very good win for us. We played a complete game, but I could be like a football coach and tell you I still have to look at film."

 


ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard

North Carolina Clubhouse

Miami Clubhouse


AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Ed Cota finds Jason Capel in the paint.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Vernon Jennings buries the jumper.
avi: 765 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1