BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Tierra Ruffin-Pratt scored 17 points as No. 16 North Carolina defeated Virginia Tech 72-50 Friday night and clinched a first-round bye in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
The Tar Heels (24-4, 12-3) never trailed and led 40-24 at halftime after making 7 of 13 attempts from 3-point range.
Ruffin-Pratt stole the ball and scored right after halftime and Waltiea Rolle added a jumper for a 20-point lead just 93 seconds after the break.
The Hokies (8-18, 2-13), who played North Carolina tough on Jan. 6, losing 48-45, got no closer than 14 points the rest of the way. They have lost 13 of their last 14.
