Jan. 29, 2005

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By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - North Carolina looked back on the program's last five trips to Charlottesville and found more than enough motivation to handle the slumping Cavaliers.

Intent on avenging five consecutive losses at University Hall, the No. 3 Tar Heels took control early and never relented in a 110-76 victory over Virginia on Saturday.

"We did have it in the back of our minds," said Rashad McCants, who didn't need to score in the first half as his teammates built a 62-26 advantage.

It was the third-worst home loss in school history for the Cavaliers, who hadn't lost to North Carolina on their home court since Feb. 20, 1999.

"I've never lost like that in my life, not even in a video game," Virginia forward Gary Forbes said. "It's tough, but they're a great team."

The Tar Heels led 16-8 when they started a 26-3 run with 14:20 to play in the first half. The Cavaliers were 1-of-10 with seven turnovers during the 8-minute spurt, which ended with North Carolina ahead 42-11.

It never got better. When Melvin Scott made a 25-footer 4 seconds before halftime, it gave North Carolina eight 3-pointers in the half and a 36-point lead. Virginia had made just seven field goals in 28 tries.

"We played pretty doggone well," coach Roy Williams said more than once after the game, once adding, "I guess that's an understatement."

Jawad Williams scored 23 points on 8-for-10 shooting, Sean May had 20 and Raymond Felton 16 for North Carolina (17-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).

"We played pretty doggone well. I guess that's an understatement." Roy Williams

Roy Williams said he made sure his team knew about the Tar Heels' futility at Virginia before the game. It also helped having a week off while the Cavaliers had lost 37 hours earlier at Virginia Tech.

"Our guys were ready to play, and they were rested," he said.

The Cavaliers (10-8, 1-7) lost 79-73 in Blacksburg on Thursday night, but coach Pete Gillen said that didn't excuse their miserable showing

"This is one game. It was a terrible game. We played very poorly, but it's not what lies ahead of us, it's what lies within us," he said.

"We've got to play with fortitude and courage."

He also said he can't concern himself with growing talk in Charlottesville that after seven years, it's time for a coaching change.

"We're halfway through the conference play. I guess we're 1-7. We've still got nine games to play. Hopefully we'll do better," he said.

J.R Reynolds led Virginia with 18 points, but got 13 in the second half when both coaches emptied their benches. Forbes added 11.

North Carolina hit triple digits on the scoreboard with 4 minutes left and went 14-of-23 from 3-point range. They had 13 players score, finished shooting 60 percent for the game and outrebounded the Cavaliers 45-26.

The highlight for the Cavaliers came in the waning minutes, when Gillen put seldom-used Billy Campbell and Hank Nacey into the game. Campbell scored 8 points and hit two 3-pointers, and Nacey scored on a layup.