North Carolina and Duke both squeeze out wins,GC Pride survives in OT, B’cats rally

ATLANTA (AP) – Tyler Hansbrough scored 27 points and made a crucial block in the closing seconds as the top-ranked Tar Heels held on for an 83-82 victory over stubborn Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

Danny Green put North Carolina (18-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) ahead by making one of two free throws with 22 seconds remaining.

Georgia Tech (7-9, 0-3) had a chance to pull off a monumental upset, but Zack Peacock’s shot was blocked by Hansbrough. Peacock retrieved the loose ball and got off a jumper that rimmed out, allowing North Carolina to escape.

The Tar Heels are off to their best start since the 1985-86 team began the season with 21 straight wins. Another encouraging sign for North Carolina: This is its first 3-0 start in the conference since 2004-05, and that team went on to win the NCAA championship.

The Tar Heels have won all but four of their games by double-digit blowouts. They came into Atlanta averaging 92.2 points and winning by an average margin of 22.1.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – For awhile it looked like No. 7 Duke might just lose a third straight time to Florida State, a team trying to get back to NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years.(one of our readers at GREENSBOROSports.com, Ron Davidson, was telling me that this game was pretty close most of the way)

But coach Mike Krzyzewski’s youthful Blue Devils rallied from a second-half swoon just in time Wednesday night.

Jon Scheyer scored 21 points and four teammates combined to make eight straight free throws in the final 1:34 to beat Florida State 70-57 and snap the unlikely two-game losing streak to the Seminoles.

“For awhile there it looked like there’s no way we’re going to win it and (then) our kids got tough,” Krzyzewski said. “After they had been the weakest they got to be the toughest. I don’t know how that works, but it worked tonight.”

Florida State took its only lead of the second half at 55-54 on Jason Rich’s layup with 3:45 left before Duke put the game away with a closing 16-2 run. Kyle Singler’s 3-pointer put the Blue Devils ahead for good with 3:30 to play.
*****from theacc.com where former WFMY News 2 Sports Director Mike Hogewood and former News and Record sports writer Bill Hass both call home as featured writers for theacc.com.*****
+++++Can you say Duke at North Carolina, 9pm on Wednesday February 6?
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GREENSBORO 76, METHODIST 75 (OT): Jason Sharpe had 13 points, 18 rebounds and two huge blocks in overtime to lead Greensboro to a 76-75 victory over Methodist on Wednesday night at Hanes Gym.

Adam Nicholson had 14 points for the Pride (8-6, 1-0 USA South), including a jumper with two seconds remaining in regulation. Bruce Zamuel, R.J. Smith and Theo Tamini each added 11 points.***from N&R reports***

CHARLOTTE — Gerald Wallace had 36 points and 14 rebounds, Jason Richardson hit a 3-pointer and four free throws in the final minute, and the Charlotte Bobcats rallied to stun the Orlando Magic 99-93 on Wednesday night.

The Bobcats, who trailed by 19 points early in the third quarter, avoided a season sweep against the Magic with a remarkable comeback to continue a wild stretch of close finishes and big wins.

Richardson, who scored 26 points, hit a 3 with the shot clock running down with 31.2 seconds left to put Charlotte ahead 93-88. Raymond Felton and Richardson then combined to hit six straight at the foul line as the Bobcats won for the fourth time in six games.
***from the Associated Press***