Hairston leads No. 23 North Carolina past McNeese State 97-63

North Carolina's P.J. Hairston drives to the basket as McNeese State's Kevin Hardy defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. North Carolina won 97-63. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) (The Associated Press)

d3a11a05-McNeese State N Carolina Basketball

North Carolina coach Roy Williams directs his team against McNeese State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. North Carolina won 97-63. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) (The Associated Press)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – P.J. Hairston scored a career-high 20 points to help No. 23 North Carolina beat McNeese State 97-63 on Saturday.

Reggie Bullock added 17 points for the Tar Heels (9-3), who made 13 of 28 3-point attempts and never trailed. James Michael McAdoo scored 12 points, Leslie McDonald added 11 points, and Brice Johnson had 10 points for North Carolina.

The Tar Heels blew open the game early with a 22-4 run to take a 27-8 lead midway through the first half.

McDonald led the charge, scoring all of his points in the first half. He made his first two shots, both of which were 3-pointers, during the decisive run.

Jeremie Mitchell scored 13 points to lead the Cowboys (6-4), whose five-game winning streak ended.

Craig McFerrin added 10 points for McNeese State, which dropped to 0-4 against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference.