Chapel Hill, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Malcolm Brogdon had 17 points, Justin Anderson scored 16 with seven assists and third-ranked Virginia got back on track by topping No. 12 North Carolina 75-64 Monday night.
Coming off their first loss of the season, the Cavaliers pulled away in the second half against the Tar Heels to post just their seventh win in 72 trips to Chapel Hill.
London Perrantes finished with 15 points and Anthony Gill supplied 13 with seven rebounds as Virginia (20-1, 8-1 ACC) rebounded from Saturday's 69-63 home loss to No. 4 Duke.
"In the middle of the first and the second half, we really clamped down defensively and then got good looks and played for each other at a high level," Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. "I think we got back to the mentality that we needed to."
Marcus Paige had 15 points to pace the Tar Heels (17-6, 7-3), who have dropped two straight on the heels of a six-game win streak.
Virginia led by only two at 44-42 with under 13 minutes remaining before Gill ignited a 22-6 run by making a strong move into the paint and hitting a jumper. He then scored on a putback and a follow-up dunk before his block resulted in a fast-break layup by Anderson that put the Cavaliers up 54-44.
Perrantes later drained a 3-pointer from the right wing, and Brogdon made two free throws to cap the run for a 66-48 Virginia lead with 3:42 left.
North Carolina only managed to trim its deficit to nine on two occasions down the stretch.
"I'm disappointed in our sense of urgency at some points during the game. I'm disappointed that we gave in," UNC head coach Roy Williams said.
The Tar Heels got off to a hot starting shooting the ball, opening the game by hitting seven of nine field goals. Conversely, the Cavaliers were 4-of-12 from the floor to begin the game, but made six shots in a row to grab their first lead at 24-23 with 7:15 to play in the first half.
A tip-in by Kennedy Meeks beat the buzzer and put North Carolina up 33-32 at halftime.
Game Notes
Virginia has won its first eight road games in a season for the first time since 1980-81 ... Paige was 3-of-7 from 3-point range. He has hit at least two 3-pointers in 13 consecutive games, tying the school record set by Shammond Williams during the 1996-97 season ... Brice Johnson had 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for North Carolina.
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