UNC advances at ACC Tournament

Top-ranked North Carolina survived a huge scare Friday and edged Virginia Tech, 79-76, in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Atlanta.

The tournament’s top seed trailed, 26-17, with 6:45 left before halftime, but started its rally when Wayne Ellington’s 3-pointer put them up, 63-60, with 11:30 left in the contest.

UNC’s four-time all-ACC forward Tyler Hansbrough scored six of his game-high 28 points in the final 6:13.

Ellington scored 16 with four assists and four rebounds and Deon Thompson added 12 with seven rebounds.

Reserve Ed Davis scored 10 points with six rebounds, while Hansbrough also had eight rebounds for the Tar Heels (28-3), who played without ACC player of the year, Ty Lawson (toe injury).

A.D. Vassallo led Virginia Tech with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but spent much of the second half in foul trouble.

Malcolm Delaney, the only other player in double figures, added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the eighth-seeded Hokies (18-14), who likely will not get an NCAA Tournament bid.