CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - A bunch of freshmen grew up in a hurry Wednesday night in a November game that lived up to the hype.

Sophomore Tyler Hansbrough, a veteran in a game that had eight freshmen make major contributions for both teams, dominated down low in the second half to lead No. 7 North Carolina to a 98-89 victory over No. 3 Ohio State.

It could have been very different if 7-foot Greg Oden, a freshman considered the equal of college big men such as Patrick Ewing, Ralph Sampson and Alonzo Mourning, had been able to play instead of sitting on the Ohio State bench in street clothes with a towel around his neck.

But that’s an argument for another day.

“It was a heck of a college basketball game,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “Even as a coach, you sit there and marvel at the level that kids are playing at offensively.”

The defense was pretty impressive in the second half for North Carolina as it was finally able to slow down Ohio State’s incredible shooting from 3-point range.

“We definitely won this game on defense,” Hansbrough said. “Coach really adjusted in the halftime, and we came out really aggressive, and tried to step it up, and I think it flowed into our offense.”

Hansbrough started and ended North Carolina’s game-breaking 17-2 run in the second half.

The 6-foot-9 forward was the key inside for the Tar Heels (5-1) against the Buckeyes (6-1), who were playing outside the Columbus city limits for the first time this season.

Hansbrough finished with 21 points and a career-high 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.

“It wasn’t anything I did in particular,” Hansbrough said of his second-half offense. “I was still playing. Movement, a little more. I moved myself without the ball and got open looks.”

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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.

“I guess it was just our adrenalin. That’s what we’re known for is hitting 3s,” Lewis said. “We came out and played a great game, but they got it done in the end.”

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, 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.

“I think this was a very good test for our guys,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. ‘I think we learned a lot about our guys through the first six games and I think we can come from here and say ‘These are the areas we have to get better at, defensive transition and rebounding.’ The encouraging thing for us is that we’re waiting on Greg, and where they got us tonight is some areas where he’s going to help us a lot.”