North Carolina hands Buckeyes first defeat

Tyler Hansbrough led the Tar Heels to an 98-89 win against Ohio State.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Tyler Hansbrough started and ended North Carolina's game-breaking 17-2 run in the second half and the seventh-ranked Tar Heels went on to a 98-89 victory over No. 3 Ohio State on Wednesday night in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
In a game featuring two of the country's top freshman classes -- with Greg Oden, the best of the bunch, sitting on the Ohio State bench in street clothes with a towel around his neck -- Hansbrough, a preseason All-America as a sophomore took over down low.
The 6-foot-9 forward was the key inside as the Tar Heels (5-1) were able to overcome an incredible 3-point shooting performance by the Buckeyes (6-1), who were playing outside the Columbus city limits for the first time this season.
Hansbrough finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and freshman Wayne Ellington added 19 for North Carolina, which trailed by 10 points in the first half and was down 68-63 with 10:50 to play in the game.
Ron Lewis had 30 points for Ohio State, which finished 13-for-26 from 3-point range after hitting 12 of its first 19 shots from beyond the arc.
Freshmen standouts
North Carolina started three freshmen and played five in the game, while Ohio State had two on the floor at the beginning and had one more among its eight available players.
Oden, the 7-0 defensive specialist considered one of the best high school big men of recent years, was reduced to a cheerleading role as he continues to recover from offseason surgery on his right wrist. He is expected back by Jan. 1, but the Buckeyes could have used him against North Carolina.
The ACC had already clinched the 11-game challenge series for the eighth time in as many meetings earlier Wednesday night, but the Tar Heels put a nice cap on the event for their conference.
Ty Lawson had 13 points for North Carolina, while fellow freshman Brandan Wright added 11.
Ivan Harris had 17 points for Ohio State and freshman Daequan Cook added 14.
Trailed at halftime
North Carolina overcame a 48-44 halftime deficit by scoring the first nine points of the second half in a 12-2 run. The sellout crowd of 21,750 at the Smith Center sensed the Tar Heels were in control, but Ohio State had other ideas and they again involved 3-pointers.
Harris hit three straight 3s for Ohio State to give the Buckeyes a 64-58 lead with 12:43 to play. For a team that entered the game shooting 42 percent from behind the arc and averaging 10 3s per game, Ohio State was on a long-range roll, but it was about to end. The Buckeyes made just one more 3 the rest of the way.
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