NEW YORK, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Tyler Hansbrough had a season-high 27 points and eight rebounds Friday afternoon as second-ranked North Carolina beat No. 21 Tennessee, 101-87.
The contest was the third-place game in the NIT Season Tip-Off Basketball Classic at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Brandan Wright had 19 points and eight rebounds; Ty Lawson had 14 points and six assists; Wayne Ellington had 13 points and six rebounds; while Rayshawn Terry had 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists for the Tar Heels (4-1), who bounced back after an 82-74 upset loss to Gonzaga on Wednesday night.
They wasted no time in asserting themselves by jumping out to a 56-35 half-time lead.
JuJuan Smith scored 20 points; Chris Lofton had 18 points, three rebounds, and four assists; and Wayne Chism added 12 points and four rebounds for the Volunteers (4-2).
Tennessee was beaten, 56-44, on Wednesday by Butler.
UNC out-rebounded the Vols, 50-23.
