Karl Deblaker / AP

Ohio State's David Lighty battles North Carolina's Danny Green during the first half.

Williams agreed.

“They have got a big-time team and when Greg Oden gets back and playing for them, they are going to be a heck of a team,” he said.

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.

Lawson said he knew most of the Ohio State freshmen from the high school all-star circuit.

“It was friendship off the court and all business on it,” he said.

Ivan Harris had 17 points for Ohio State and freshman Daequan Cook added 14.

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.

A tip-in by Cook gave Ohio State a 68-63 lead with 10:52 left.

That’s when Hansbrough started to dominate down low.

His basket started the run and then he followed a reverse layup by Lawson with a three-point play to give the Tar Heels the lead for good at 70-68 with 8:28 to go. Rayshawn Terry hit a 3 to end North Carolina’s run of 12 straight points. After a jumper by Harris, Ellington hit a 3 and Hansbrough followed with another basket in the paint to make it 80-70 with 6:33 to play.

Ohio State led 35-25 with 7:10 left in the first half on a drive by Lewis. Sophomore reserves Marcus Ginyard and Bobby Frasor led the Tar Heels on a 12-5 run to get them within 40-38 with 4:21 left on a dunk by Hansbrough after Frasor, who had hit consecutive 3s, tapped a loose ball while on the floor to Danny Green who fed Hansbrough ahead of the field for the breakaway slam.

David Lighty then hit the Buckeyes’ seventh 3 in 11 attempts — at the time they were 9-of-18 from inside the arc — to restore the lead to five.

Ohio State finished the half 8-for-13 on 3s.

More news

Jae C. Hong / AP

Is this rule working?

CBT: With all the hand-wringing the media does in regards to the NCAA and its rulebook, there may not be a rule in all of college basketball that has been able to unite the masses like the new early entry deadline

CBT: Who wants to buy James Naismith's home?

Headlines

• Label

CBT: 4 Indiana schools extend Crossroads Classic

CBT: Stony Brook says it's staying put ... for now

CBT: Will Michigan re-hang the Fab Five banners?

CBT: Fine's wife to sue ESPN for libel

CBT: Coach K gets a lot of bucks and bennies

CBT: ACC will include all 14 teams in tournament

Recruiting rundown: ‘Bama lands Jimmie Taylor

CBT: Nolan Richardson's son found dead