CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Tyler Zeller hit 8-of-11 shots from the field Thursday and scored 21 points with 15 rebounds in leading No. 8 North Carolina past North Carolina State 74-55.
The Tar Heels won their 30th straight home game, playing for the first time this season without starting guard Dexter Strickland.
Strickland, a defensive specialist who was averaging seven points a game, tore a ligament in his right knee last week and will be out for the remainder of the season. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
North Carolina won for the 11th time in 12 games -- its only loss in that stretch being a 33-point crushing at the hands of Florida State.
Harrison Barnes added 15 points for the Tar Heels (17-3, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who ended the opening half on a 10-3 run that gave them a 14-point cushion at the break.
Lorenzo Brown paced North Carolina State (15-6, 4-2) with 12 points. The Wolfpack had won their previous three games.
