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University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Fall To Virginia, 90-76
February 20, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2000
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Keith Friel saved Virginia from a potential second-half collapse with 11 points in a span of 1:36 as the Cavaliers snapped an 18-game losing streak in Chapel Hill with a 90-76 victory over North Carolina on Sunday.
The win by Virginia (18-8, 8-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) was the first here since 1981 and moved the Cavaliers one-half game in front of the Tar Heels (16-10, 7-5) for third place in the ACC.
Virginia came into the game 3-56 all-time in Chapel Hill, but used its superior quickness and the long-range shooting of Friel to pull off the key win.
Travis Watson led the Cavaliers with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Chris Williams added 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
Jason Capel paced the Tar Heels with 17 points.
Friel, who didn't play in the first half, came off the bench midway through the second period to sink three straight 3-pointers and a pair of foul shots after Virginia saw its 13-point halftime lead trimmed to eight on 2-for-15 shooting.
Friel's scoring outburst gave the Cavaliers a 63-46 lead with 9:09 left and North Carolina never got closer than six points to see its three-game winning streak end.
Virginia kept North Carolina in the game over the final 3:13 by missing nine free throws.
It was also the fifth home loss this season for the Tar Heels to tie a school record. The last time North Carolina lost that many here in a season was 56 years ago.
North Carolina's offense was in disarray in the opening 20 minutes after an eight-day layoff. Its defense wasn't much better as the quicker Cavaliers scored 10 layups and their press forced 12 first-half turnovers.
Coach Bill Guthridge was so disgusted with the effort of his starters he subbed in the "Blue Team" with 5:25 left and the Tar Heels down 37-24.
While the five reserves got a standing ovation, they were outscored 9-4 as North Carolina fell into a deeper hole before cutting the halftime deficit to 13.
Watson, giving away 5 inches to 7-footer Brendan Haywood, made six of eight shots in the opening half for 12 points before picking up his third foul on a charge.
