CHAPEL HILL, N.C. _ North Carolina started the new year slow in its game against Harvard on Wednesday.
But when it finally going, there was no doubt it would win. After leading by only five points early in the second half, UNC held Harvard to only one point during an eight-minute span, and increased its lead to 20 points midway through the second half.
The Tar Heels would hold on and defeat the Crimson 77-57.
Five Tar Heel players scored in double figures. Senior forward Luke Maye led all scores with 14 points. Freshman guard Coby White and graduate senior Cam Johnson both scored 13, and freshman wing Nassir Little scored 12 points.
The Tar Heels will enter conference play riding a two-game winning streak after a tough loss to Kentucky in Chicago on Dec. 22. UNC beat Davidson 82-60 at the Dean Smith Center last Saturday.
The Tar Heels had trouble making shots early in the game against the Crimson, but it stayed ahead by playing good defense. The Tar Heels forced 12 first-half turnovers, and 22 for the game.
UNC got out to a 17-10 start through the first eight minutes of the game. But Harvard answered with an 8-0 run to take a brief lead.
Over the next 12 minutes, though, the Tar Heels outscored the Crimson 24-13 to take a 41-31 lead at halftime. UNC again started the second half slow. Harvard cut the lead to five points with 16:24 left in the game.
But Harvard went cold, missing its next 11 shots. UNC went on a 16-1 run and took a 60-40 lead with less than nine minutes remaining. That was all UNC needed.
In the first half, the Tar Heels took care of the basketball, turning it over only four times. But they got careless late in the game and finished with 11 turnovers.
The Tar Heels finished their non-conference slate winning 10 of their 13 games. It included wins over then No. 4 Gonzaga at home and then-No. 17 UCLA on a neutral court. But it also included losses to then No. 9 Michigan, Texas and then-No. 19 Kentucky.
UNC's first opponent will be Pittsburgh on Saturday.
