CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina exploded out of the gate in cruising to a 81-66 victory over Virginia on Saturday at the Smith Center giving the Tar Heels three consecutive wins.

UNC converted 10 of its first 14 shots from the field fueling a 21-2 lead in a game it never trailed, which has been the case over the last three contests.

Carolina fought off a few UVA pushes before using a 12-2 run building a 77-57 lead with 6:10 remaining.

The Tar Heels (17-11, 10-6 ACC) dominated in some key areas, including outrebounding the Cavaliers, 35-21, including owning a 15-2 advantage in second chance points, plus the Heels scorched from the perimeter converting 9 of 16. UNC is now 30-for-64 from 3-point range in its last three games.

Jae’Lyn Withers and Ian Jackson led UNC with 16 points each while Ven-Allen Lubin added 14 and RJ Davis 12. Withers also added 11 rebounds.

UVA dropped to 13-14 and 6-10.

Here is How it Happened:

TV TO – UNC 15, UVA 2 with 14:05 left

UNC 6-9 FGs (1-2 from 3)

UVA 1-8 FGs (0-3 rom 3)

Rebs – UNC 10-0 (3-0 OR)

2nd chance pts – UNC 4-0

Pts in paint – UNC 10-2

Lubin 6 pts, RJ 4, Withers 3, Powell 2

Notes: Great energy from the Tar Heels out of the gate. The Heels contested every UVA shot and aggressive and wisely attacked on the other end.

TV TO – UNC 21, UVA 4 with 10:56 left in the half

That segment: UNC 6-2

UNC 8-12 FGs (2-3 from 3)

UVA 2-11 FGs (0-4 from 3)

Rebs – UNC 11-2 (301 OR)

2nd chance pts – UNC 4-0

Assists – UNC 5-0

TOs – UNC 5-4

Pts off TOs – UNC 8-0

Pts in paint – UNC 12-2

*UVA’s first rebound came with 12:12 left in the half

*UNC is credited with just 1 block but by our count the Heels have 4 blocks

Notes: Total domination in every aspect so far for the Tar Heels.

TV TO – UNC 35, UVA 23 with 6:04 left in the half

That segment: UVA 19-14

UNC 12-17 FGs (5-6 from 3)

UVA 8-19 FGs (3-8 from 3)

Rebs – UNC 14-2 (4-1 OR)

2nd chance pts – UNC 6-0

Pts in paint – UNC 14-8

Steals – UVA 6-2

Fast break pts – UNC 5-0

*UVA 19 pints in the last 4:52 of action

*UVA with 8 pts off TOs in same span

*UVA 7 for its last 9 from the field

TV TO – UNC 37, UVA 27 with 3:39 left in the half

That segment: UVA 4-2

Rebs – UNC 16-3

Bench pts – UNC 11-9

Pts off TOs – UVA 12-10

*UNC has scored on 16 of 26 possessions (61.5%)

*UNC is averaging 1.423 points per possession

*UVA has scored on 12 of 27 possessions (44.4%)

*UVA is averaging 1.000 points per possession

*JWash flagrant 1 at 10:56 – it was 21-4, since it’s 23-16 UVA

Last Segment:

*UNC 9-7

*UVA made 11 of its last 14 shots in the half

*UNC led 21-2, after that it was 32-25 UVA

*UNC missed 6 of its last 8 shots of the half

*UNC had 11-0 edge on the glass, it’s 6-5 UNC since

TV TO – UNC 53, UVA 36 with 16:00 left

That segment: UNC 7-2

This half…

UNC 3-7 FGs (1-1 from 3)

UVA 1-7 FGs (0-4 from 3)

Game…

Rebs – UNC 22-9 (7-2 OR)

2nd chance pts – UNC 13-0

Pts in paint – UNC 20-12

UNC 7-9 from 3

*Cadeau 5 assists

*Withers 7 rebs

TV TO – UNC 61, UVA 49 with 11:52 left

That segment: UVA 13-8

This half…

UNC 6-12 FGs (2-3 from 3)

UVA 6-14 FGs (1-5 from 3)

Game…

UNC 20-37 FGs (8-11 from 3)

UVA 18-38 FGs (6-16 from 3)

Rebs – UNC 24-11 (7-2 OR UNC)

2nd chance pts – UNC 13-0

Pts off TOs – UVA 14-13

Lubin 12 pts, RJ 12, Jackson 11, JWit 11

Notes: UVA attempted just 3 layups in the first half and 2 dunks (missed both), but it’s already made 3 layups and converted a dunk this half. UNC has had lethargic stretches. Using the press would help get some juice in the Heels and also speed up UVA. Hoos are getting a lot of open looks in the halfcourt.

TV TO – UNC 69, UVA 55 with 8:00 left

That segment: UNC 8-6

UNC 23-44 FGs (8-12 from 3)

UVA 21-43 FGs (6-18 from 3)

Rebs – UNC 26-13 (9-2 OR)

2nd chance pts – UNC 15-0

Pts in paint – UNC 30-18

Fastr break pts – UNC 5-2

Ian 3-3 from 3

JWit 3-4 from 3 (8 makes in last 3 games)

Final Stretch:

UNC 22-11

Tar Heels led by as many as 20 at 77-57.