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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Matt Doherty's heart was racing.
North Carolina's new coach lived up to his promise as an
emotional leader, but the Tar Heels (No. 4 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) didn't necessarily live up to their high preseason ranking against Winthrop, pulling away
late for a 66-61 victory in the NABC Classic on Friday night.
|  | | North Carolina gave Matt Doherty a win in his Tar Heels coaching debut, but it wasn't easy. |
The Tar Heels, who returned four starters from last season's
Final Four team, struggled for most of Doherty's first game as head
coach of his alma mater, needing some late free throws to seal it.
"It was a tough, tough first game to play," Doherty said. "I
wouldn't want to play them again.
"It was a good game for us. You have to play a team like this in the NCAA Tournament in the first or second round. They have undersized post players and that makes it tough for our big lineup."
Freshman Brian Morrison and Kris Lang had 14 points each for the
Tar Heels, who will face Tulsa in the championship game. Tulsa beat
Arizona State 69-67.
Derrick Knox scored 21 points to lead the Eagles, who fell to
0-23 against Atlantic Coast Conference teams.
"We came in here expecting to win," said Knox, who was 5-for-7
from 3-point range. "If you think otherwise you're defeated before
you start."
Unlike predecessor Bill Guthridge, Doherty didn't spend much
time in his seat, jumping up-and-down on almost every basket. He
also got a technical foul six minutes into his North Carolina
coaching career by charging onto the floor.
The former Notre Dame coach needed to get his team fired up.
The two-time defending Big South Conference champions were
quicker than North Carolina and used a variety of defenses to slow
down the superior inside game of the Tar Heels, who shot just 39
percent.
"One, maybe two bounces and it's a different outcome,"
Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall said. "We came in here and got one
more field goal than them, we outrebounded them by nine, and
basically the game came down to the free-throw line. I just wish we
could have gone there more."
It also helped that 7-foot center Brendan Haywood got into early
foul and played only 24 minutes, and preseason All-American Joseph
Forte started 1-for-7 from the field and had 10 points.
"Knock on wood, I hope Joe doesn't have a game like that
again," Doherty said.
North Carolina led by six at the half and 62-51 with 4:39 left,
but the Eagles went on a 7-0 run to close to within four.
Forte missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity with
1:14 left, but Winthrop turned it over on two straight possessions
and saw its potential upset bid slip away when Michael Brooker and
Forte sank two free throws each in the final 10.7 seconds.
Doherty, who took over from Guthridge on July 11, came onto the
floor and threw a pair of T-shirts into the crowd and displayed his
vertical leap when the Tar Heels scored -- which wasn't much in the
early going.
Winthrop bolted to a 13-4 lead as Doherty dropped his sport coat
three minutes in as Haywood went to the bench early with two
holding fouls, negating North Carolina's height advantage over the
Eagles.
Doherty then got his first technical foul six minutes in as he
stormed onto the floor and stomped his feet. He claimed he was
trying to get his team's attention, and the call seemed to ignite
North Carolina and the crowd.
The Tar Heels went on a 9-0 run following the technical as
Doherty switched from point guard Adam Boone to fellow freshman
Morrison to try to find an offensive spark.
It was the first time North Carolina was playing without school
assists leader Ed Cota on the roster since March 17, 1996.
Morrison sank a pair of 3-pointers in a span of 1:06 late in the
half as the Tar Heels built their lead to as many as nine before
settling for a 39-33 halftime edge.
"I think we stuck together through adversity," North
Carolina's Jason Capel said. "The big fellow picking up two quick
fouls, that was a big test, we had to play through that. They were
a team that made a bunch of runs and I don't think we were ever
rattled."
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Winthrop Clubhouse
North Carolina Clubhouse
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