CHAPEL HILL, N.C. _ North Carolina almost had it.
After Cole Anthony's running layup gave the Tar Heels a one-point lead with 30 seconds left, Boston College's Jared Hamilton was fouled while taking a 3-point shot. He made two of the final three free throws with 17 seconds left.
The Tar Heels had one final shot, but Anthony missed a contested 3-pointer before the buzzer sounded and the Eagles won, 71-70, at the Dean Smith Center.
The Tar Heels are now 10-11 and 3-7 in the conference.
Anthony, who had missed the past 11 games with a knee injury, scored 20 points in the second half. He finished with 26 points. He was 5 of 14 from the floor.
Hamilton finished with 18 to lead Boston College (11-11, 5-6 ACC).
Anthony hadn't played since Dec. 8, when UNC played Virginia. He had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right knee on Dec. 16 to treat a partially torn meniscus.
He practiced five-on-five for the first time since the procedure on Thursday, and was ready by Saturday.
Without Anthony, the Tar Heels were 4-7. However, they had won their last two games against Miami and N.C. State and looked like a team getting into a rhythm. They had shot 58% and 49% in those two games.
But against Boston College they struggled early. Anthony was rusty, and UNC's other players were off as well.
They shot 30% from the floor in the first half, but trailed by only two points at halftime. While Boston College shot 48% from the floor, the Eagles turned it over 12 times in the first half.
In the second half, Boston College opened the half on a 9-2 run, and eventually stretched its lead to 10 points with 12 minutes left.
But Anthony answered with a 3-pointer to start an 11-0 run. The Tar Heels took a one-point lead with 9:42 remaining. The lead didn't last long, however.
Boston College answered with a 7-0 run of its own.
The Tar Heels kept it close. The teams battled back and forth over the final three minutes. UNC took a one-point lead after Anthony's running layup with 30 seconds left.
But senior guard Brandon Robinson was called for a foul on Hamilton's 3-point shot with 17 seconds left. Robinson sprained his ankle on the play and had to be carried off the floor. X-rays came back negative for a break, UNC officials confirmed after the game.
"Everybody is complaining about the call, I didn't like it, there's no question about that, but I haven't seen it closely enough," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "Everybody on my staff is raising Cain, but the bottom line is we missed two box outs and threw away an inbounds pass. Get those plays and you don't put yourself in that position.
"Referees make calls, some times you like them, some times you don't."
Hamilton hit two of his three free throws, which sealed the game.
After Anthony's final 3-pointer came up short, the Eagles celebrated.
