North Carolina Deals Hokies Worst Loss of Season (Video Included)

February 16, 2008 - Lewis Witcher rejects Tyler Hansbrough's layup attempt early in the first half of play Saturday.
STAFF PHOTO BY BRIAN SEWELL

The Tar Heel fans were asked to “turn it blue” by wearing provided baby blue T-shirts. The Tar Heel basketball team turned the Hokies blue in a 92-53 blowout victory Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina dominated the glass while forcing the Hokies to their worst shooting performance of the season. The Hokies shot just 25 percent from the floor, including 22 percent from beyond the arc.

The 39-point loss was the most lopsided game in the ACC this season. UNC improved to 9-2 in league play while sending Tech to 5-6. The Hokies have now lost three games in a row.

“I think it was our best defensive game, but let’s be honest, they did miss some shots they would normally make,” said UNC coach Roy Williams.

The Tar Heels dominated the Hokies on the boards 54-24—which led to a number of second and third chance points for UNC. Rebounding is becoming a problem for the Hokies—last week Miami out rebounded them by 15, their worst effort of the season before Saturday’s game.

“It’s very simple. We weren’t very good and they were,” said Hokies’ coach Seth Greenberg. “We did not raise our level of play to be competitive. It’s very rare for our team to play that way but I guess everyone has one of those in their system. Unfortunately, tonight was ours.”

The lead grew as big as 47 with just over three minutes left to play when Williams substituted his entire bench. As a result, the Tar Heels missed their last seven shots and the Hokies finished the game on an 8-0 run.

National Player of the Year candidate Tyler Hansbrough led the way for UNC with 23 points and nine rebounds. Wayne Ellington added 19 as five Tar Heel scorers finished in double figures.

Freshman Malcolm Delaney paced Tech’s offense with a career high 20 points. Sharpshooter A.D. Vassallo, who leads the Hokies in scoring this season at 16 points per game, shot an uncharacteristic 3-for-13 from the field, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range.

Tech will try to get back to .500 in the ACC as they travel to Maryland on Wednesday before they host three straight home games. The Hokies defeated Maryland in Cassell Coliseum 67-66 over a month ago.

Video by Neal Turnage