CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- James Michael McAdoo's powerful inside performance Friday lifted No. 12 North Carolina State to a tougher-than-expected 76-59 win over Gardner-Webb.
McAdoo scored 26 points and claimed 14 rebounds, but the Tar Heels suffered 18 turnovers and made only 1-of-12 attempts from 3-point range.
North Carolina built a 12-pont lead at halftime, then struggled to put the Runnin' Bulldogs away. Gardner-Webb was within nine points inside the 5-minute mark.
Dexter Strickland added 13 points for the Tar Heels and no other North Carolina player had more than six.
Gardner-Webb was led by 13 points each from Donta Harper and Max Landis.
The Tar Heels made it to the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament last season. Gardner-Webb posted a 12-20 record in 2011-12.
