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Top 25 men : Green leads UNC over Wildcats

UNC's Tyler Hansbrough had his third double-double. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
UNC's Tyler Hansbrough had his third double-double. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Danny Green had a career-high 20 points, and No. 1 North Carolina overpowered Kentucky 86-77 Saturday at Lexington, Ky., for the Tar Heels’ fourth straight victory in the annual matchup between college basketball’s winningest programs.

The Tar Heels are off to a 7-0 start for the first time under coach Roy Williams and for the first time since the 1998-99 squad began the season 8-0. Kentucky is 4-2 under new coach Billy Gillispie.

Fouls were the story in this one, as Kentucky committed 25, preventing the Wildcats from generating little rhythm against North Carolina’s physical and quick attack.

For the third straight year, the Wildcats used a swarm defense to largely limit North Carolina’s post power, Tyler Hansbrough. Unlike the past two years, in which he scored a combined 13 points, Hansbrough racked up his points at the free-throw line, where he made 10 of 12 shots.

Hansbrough finished with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, his third double-double of the season.

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky’s blue-chip freshman power forward, held is own against Hansbrough but had little help from his teammates. Top shot-blocker Perry Stevenson picked up his fourth foul with 8 minutes left in the first half, and fouled out early in the second.

(5) Georgetown 61, Fairfield 49: At Washington, the Hoyas overcame a mediocre game from Roy Hibbert, an injury scare for Jessie Sapp and a surprising second-half deficit to beat the Stags (2-5) and improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2003.

(7) Duke 79, Davidson 73: At Charlotte, N.C., Gerald Henderson scored 21 points and Greg Paulus had two key baskets and a steal in the final 2 minutes, and the Blue Devils (8-0) remained unbeaten by holding off the pesky Wildcats (3-3).

(10) Michigan St. 80, Jacksonville 51: At East Lansing, Mich., Raymar Morgan scored 24 points, and Marquise Gray had 11 to help the Spartans (6-1) beat the Dolphins (3-3).

(12) Louisville 47, Miami (Ohio) 44: At Louisville, Ky., Earl Clark had 10 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and the Cardinals (5-1) held off the stubborn RedHawks (3-3).

(14) Pittsburgh 78, Toledo 52: At Pittsburgh, Sam Young had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Mike Cook added 14 points, leading the slow-starting Panthers (7-0) to a victory over the Rockets (1-6).

(15) Indiana 64, Southern Illinois 51: At Carbondale, Ill., Eric Gordon overcame a slow start to score 22 points, and the Hoosiers (6-1) beat the Salukis (3-2), snapping Southern Illinois’ 15-game home winning streak.

(16) Butler 65, Ohio St. 46: At Indianapolis, on a night the Bulldogs (7-0) didn’t shoot well and their precision passing was out of sync, they still forced 24 turnovers and got 23 points from freshman Matt Howard in a victory over the Buckeyes (4-3).

(18) Clemson 85, South Carolina 74: At Clemson, S.C., K.C. Rivers scored 24 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Tigers (7-0) to a win over the Gamecocks (4-4).

(21) Brigham Young 78, Portland 54: At Portland, Lee Cummard scored 18 points and Trent Plaisted added 16 as the Cougars (6-1) rolled to a victory over the Pilots (2-6).

(23) Xavier 90, Belmont 49: At Cincinnati, Stanley Burrell scored a season-high 18 points and the Musketeers (6-1) turned up the defensive pressure and beat the Bruins (5-3) for their fifth straight victory.