UNC beats BC 82-71, avoids 1st 0-4 start in ACC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Marcus Paige scored 21 points and North Carolina beat Boston College 82-71 on Saturday for its first ACC victory of the season.

James Michael McAdoo added 17 points for the Tar Heels (11-6, 1-3).

They shot nearly 53 percent in their highest-scoring ACC game of the season and avoided the first 0-4 start to conference play in the program’s proud history.

Olivier Hanlan scored 16 points and Lonnie Jackson added 14 for Boston College (5-13, 1-4), which replaced North Carolina in the league cellar.

The Eagles hit 11 3-pointers but committed too many of their 18 turnovers at inopportune times, leading to their sixth loss in seven games.

BC pulled to 56-55 with 10 minutes remaining on Hanlan’s driving layup. But on their next nine trips downcourt, the Eagles managed just one basket and turned it over four times while allowing the Tar Heels to push their lead back into double figures.