RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Harrison Barnes led North Carolina to a fast finish Wednesday that brought the No. 19 Tar Heels a 75-63 win over North Carolina State.
The game was deadlocked with 9 minutes to play before the Tar Heels went on a game-ending, 22-10 run.
Barnes had a sluggish start, but he finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Kendall Marshall added 14 points and Dexter Strickland had 13 for North Carolina (21-6, 11-2 Atlantic Coast Conference).
The Tar Heels won their fourth in a row and stayed within a half game of No. 1 Duke for the conference lead. North Carolina and Duke end the regular season by meeting in Chapel Hill on March 5.
John Henson had 15 rebounds and blocked six shots for the Tar Heels.
North Carolina State (14-13, 4-9) was led by 13 points from C.J. Leslie.
