THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601280317
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Dramatic comebacks have been so frequent in North Carolina's history that it takes four pages in the school's media guide to detail all of them.
The list grew longer Saturday as the 11th-ranked Tar Heels came from 18 points down in the second half for a 65-59 victory over ninth-ranked Wake Forest in the Smith Center.
``I know the school has had a lot of great comebacks, but this is the first one I've been involved in,'' said freshman Antawn Jamison, who played the final 14 minutes with four fouls and finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
``I can't believe how emotional it was out there. We just kept our poise and never gave up.''
The win kept North Carolina (15-4, 6-1) in a tie with Georgia Tech for first place in the ACC. Wake Forest (13-3, 5-2) dropped out of the lead pack with its second loss in seven days.
The Heels scrapped back to take a 56-54 lead on freshman Ademola Okulaja's 3-point goal with 2:23 left.
Wake Forest briefly regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Hampton's Tony Rutland before UNC got the lead for good on a Jeff McInnis steal and basket in the lane with 1:09 to play.
Wake's Tim Duncan, who finished with 22 points, then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 41.5 seconds left.
McInnis picked up the rebound after a scramble along the baseline and then hit two free throws to push the margin to three. The 6-foot-4 junior guard finished with 20 points, four assists and two steals.
Another major factor in the comeback was Okulaja, whose quickness and physical play helped to contain All-American Duncan.
Carolina trailed 49-41 when the 6-foot-8 Okulaja replaced 7-2 Serge Zwikker at center with 8:25 remaining. Duncan admitted the switch made a big difference.
``They got in a comfort zone and felt they could run and jump better with the smaller lineup,'' said Duncan, who hit 10 of 13 shots but was shut out in the final 5:26.
``We didn't go to Timmy as much as we should have, especially in the last eight minutes when they had a smaller player (Okulaja) on him,'' Rutland said.
Jamison supplied the muscle North Carolina needed on the glass, outrebounding Duncan 15-10.
``When I got my fourth foul, coach (Dean) Smith told me I was staying in the game, but to play smart,'' Jamison said.
``I was glad he didn't take me out. That gave me confidence.''
The first half belonged to the Deacons, who won for the first time ever in the Smith Center last year and also beat UNC in the ACC tournament final.
The Tar Heels failed to score during a 7:46 stretch as Wake Forest opened a 20-9 lead and finished the half with a 32-18 advantage.
It was the fewest points in a half for a UNC team since the Tar Heels scored only nine in the first half against LSU in 1982.
``We had open shots, but they just weren't falling,'' said Tar Heels guard Dante Calabria, who had eight points and six assists. ``They started falling in the second half and we picked up our intensity on defense.''
Still, Wake Forest coach Dave Odom knew from experience that his team couldn't relax in the final half.
North Carolina's greatest comeback, in terms of points, also had been against Odom and Wake Forest in February 1992, when it overcame a 22-point first-half margin and 20 with 14:49 to play.
``We did everything in the first half we wanted to, but it is hard to hold this North Carolina team,'' Odom said. ``We tried everything we had, but Carolina was just too good down the stretch, and I think we got a little fatigued.''
``I think they got a little nervous (trying) to run down the clock and then forcing some shots,'' Calabria said. ``That seemed to work to our advantage.''
UNC warmed up from 27 percent shooting in the first half to make 58.6 percent in the final half.
Still, the 65 points were the lowest total by a North Carolina team in the Smith Center since it opened in 1986. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
North Carolina's Vince Carter, left, and Jeff McInnis celebrate
after another Tar Heel comeback for the books.
by CNB