TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Ty Lawson hit a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded Wednesday, giving No. 6 North Carolina an 80-77 victory over Florida State.
The dramatic win came despite a rare poor performance from defending player of the year Tyler Hansbrough. The North Carolina star was plagued with foul problems and for the first time in 56 games failed to reach double digits in scoring.
Hansbrough produced eight points with five rebounds.
North Carolina (18-2, 4-2 ACC) led by 13 early in the second half, but the Seminoles rallied to take a 77-74 lead with 2:03 to play on Toney Douglas's two free throws.
Florida State did not score another point, suffering a missed shot, a turnover and a 35-second violation down the stretch.
Danny Green hit a layup with 1:12 remaining and he was fouled on the play. The ensuing free throw tied the game. Florida State then tried to get off a winning shot, but North Carolina's defense prevented the Seminoles from getting a good look at the basket and the shot clock expired with 3 seconds to go.
That gave Lawson just enough time to launch the winning shot.
Lawson finished with 21 points, helping the Tar Heels to their fourth straight win. Green had 20. Florida State (16-5, 3-3) was led by Douglas with 32 points.
Duke leads the ACC with a 5-1 record, followed by Wake Forest and Virginia Tech at 4-1 and North Carolina at 4-2.
